Breast self-examination: longitudinal predictors of intention and subsequent behaviour

Abstract

This study analysed in a longitudinal design the relationship between past breast self-examination (BSE) behaviour, determinants, intention and future BSE behaviour in a population of adult Dutch women. Past behaviour and psychosocial determinants were assessed at T1, followed 6 weeks later (T2) with the assessment of the intention to perform BSE monthly. Half a year after the first measurement the current BSE behaviour was assessed by means of a telephone survey (T3) (total end response 78%, n=364). The questionnaires included BSE behaviour, intention, attitude (pros and cons of BSE, anticipated regret, moral obligation), social influence (support, modelling) and self-efficacy. Other background variables assessed were past BSE behaviour, and demographics. Although 81% of the women stated that they performed BSE, only 41% of the women performed BSE correctly. Women who performed BSE correctly differed from women who did not on all psychosocial determinants assessed a half year earlier, with the exception of anticipated regret. Stepwise multiple regression analyses showed that the psychosocial determinants explained 51% of the variance in intention to perform BSE, assessed 6 weeks later; past behaviour accounted for 2% of extra explained variance. Logistic regression analyses showed that past behaviour, the psychosocial determinants and intention were significant predictors of correct BSE behaviour a half year later (Nagelkerke's total explained variance was 47%). It was concluded that misperceptions of correct BSE behaviour was highly prevalent. Both the psychosocial determinants as well as past behaviour were important predictors of intention to perform BSE and subsequent BSE behaviour.

Health beliefs and breast self‐examination in a sample of Turkish nursing students and their mothers

“…According to Petro‐Nustas and Mikhail (2002), knowledge about BSE is not sufficient to trigger practice. The reason for this finding may be BSE being a habitual behaviour (Lechner et al. 2004).…”

“…2007). The early detection methods of breast cancer include breast self‐examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography (Lechner et al. 2004).…”

Conhecimento e prática do auto-exame de mama

“…A heterogeneidade entre o conhecimento e a prática do autoexame das mamas é também relatada em outros países. Na Holanda, investigação longitudinal sobre os fatores preditores da intenção de realizar o auto-exame, em uma amostra de 364 mulheres, apontou que embora 81% referissem realizá-lo, apenas 41% o faziam de forma correta 15 . Na Espanha, o estudo com uma amostra de mulheres com história familiar da doença e, portanto, de alto risco para o desenvolvimento de câncer de mama, revelou que somente 34% realizavam o auto-exame mensalmente 16 .…”

French women’s breast self-examination practices with time after undergoing BRCA1/2 genetic testing

“…Twelve months after disclosure, significantly more women (57.3%) were practising BSE than before testing. No relevant national statistics on French women's BSE practices were available for comparison with the rates recorded in this study, but monthly BSE practices have been reported to occur in about 30% of the women in the general population in places such as Quebec, the Netherlands and the United States, although the rates of practice actually vary from one ethnic group to another [26][27][28]. The difference in BSE practices between French women belonging to HBOC families and those complying with more general norms may seem rather high, but one must take into account the increased perceived risk of cancer risk and cancer worry commonly found to occur in HBOC families, which may act as incentive to adopt cancer surveillance practices [29].…”