Asian Pac J Cancer Prev, 15 (16), 6525-6529
IntroductionBreast cancer is currently the most prevalent cancer among women in both the developed and developing countries (WHO, 2014). In 2012, 1.7 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer. There were also 6.3 million breast cancer survivors who had been diagnosed with the disease in the previous five years. Breast cancer is also the most common cause of cancer death among women (522,000 deaths in 2012) and the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in 140 of 184 countries worldwide. Since 2008, the breast cancer incidence has risen by more than 20%, while mortality has increased by 14% (GLOBOCAN, 2012). Breast cancer is also the most common cancer among Turkish women, and their BC incidence is 40,6 per 100.000 (Ministry of Health, 2009).Raising general public awareness on the prevalence of breast cancer and the mechanisms to fight it, and advocating for appropriate policies and programs, are key strategies of population-based breast cancer control (WHO, 2014). Early detection to improve breast cancer outcome and survival remains the cornerstone of breast cancer control (Anderson et al., 2008). Breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination, and mammography are used as screening methods in the early detection of breast cancer, and currently BSE is recommended for women beginning
AbstractBackground: The aim of this study was to determine the health beliefs and knowledge about breast self examination (BSE) and the actual BSE habits of female university nursing students. Materials and Methods: The study sample recruited 189 nursing students who agreed to participate in the study. Descriptive statistics, the Mann-Whitney U test, one way ANOVA test, t test and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyse the data. Results: 83.1% of nursing students had knowledge about breast cancer (BC) and BSE in the study. BSE was practiced by 70.4% of nursing students; 21.8% of them performed BSE regularly. A fear of developing BC was an incentive for 85% of nursing students to practice BSE. The confidence subscale scores in the third and fourth years of students' university education were higher, and the barrier subscale score in these same years was lower than their first years of study. Perception of benefit of nursing students experiencing breast-related discomfort exerted a positive effect. Nursing students with lower perception of barriesr performed BSE regularly. In conclusion, nursing students' years of university study, breast cancer knowledge, history of breast cancer in family, and BSE practice status were factors affecting their health beliefs. Conclusions: These study results indicate the importance of developing education and training programs which educate not only nursing students but all women about breast cancer, its symptoms, the importance of early diagnosis and of regular BSE.
