Health Beliefs and Breast Cancer Screening Behaviors among Iranian Female Health Workers

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a serious health problem. Early detection is crucial for optimal treatment and reducing mortality. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate health beliefs concerning performance of breast self-examination (BSE) and mammography in a sample of Iranian female health workers. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed among 441 female health care workers (physicians=88, nurses=163, midwives=38, officers=68, and others=84) in 3 different health centers in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected using a self administered questionnaire which included demographic characteristics and thenPersian version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). Results: The mean age of the participants was 34.7±13.7. It was found that 41.9% of the workers performed BSE in the past and 14.9% of them regularly, but only 10.6% of them had undergone a mammogram. Perceived barriers to BSE (F=6.351, P=0.021) and mammography (F=5.214, p=0.022) were significantly higher in officers than physicians, nurses or midwives. Perceived barriers were lower among those who had performed BSE and mammography, but not significant (p=0.34 and p=0.56, respectively). Furthermore, perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of the workers who had BSE and mammography were significantly higher than who did not (p<0.05). Perceived seriousness was not a significant variable in BSE and mammography (p=0.71 and p=0.43, respectively). Conclusions: The health beliefs of health workers concerning the perceived susceptibility of breast cancer and the perceived benefits BSE and mammography significantly impact their screening practices.

Health Beliefs and Breast Cancer Screening Behavior among a Group of Female Health Professionals in Turkey

“…Reports from similar studies on FHPs in Turkey (10,11,15,18) and other countries (13,14,(19)(20)(21) are consistent with the results of this study. As is already known, FHPs are given theoretical information about BC and screening behaviors as part of their training.…”

“…A previous Turkish study (10) found that physicians' health motivation and self-efficacy scores were higher than those of the nurses and midwives. In another similar study (21), it was found that the physicians' health motivation, self-efficacy, perceived benefits scores were higher than those of the nurses, midwives and other participants. According to the HBM, the rate of compliance with regular screening methods is higher in women with higher scores of health motivation and self-efficacy.…”

The Effects of Training on Knowledge and Beliefs About Breast Cancer and Early Diagnosis Methods Among Women

“…In the study conducted by Abd El-Hay, it was emphasized that MMG could reduce mortality rates for women aged 40 to 74 by 25%. However, previous studies (7,(40)(41)(42)(43) reported that the rate of practicing MMG among women was low. MMG has been the "gold standard" thanks to the detection of BC at an early stage for decades.…”

Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention among Public Health Midwives on Breast Cancer Early Detection in the District of Gampaha, Sri Lanka

“…Practices of breast cancer early detection were found to be substandard in the Asia Pacific region (Yurdakos et al, 2013;Shiryazdi et al, 2014). A cross-sectional study conducted in 2012, on 500 health personnel, and 50 general administration services workers from seven government hospitals and the Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Centre within the province of Samsun, Thailand showed that only 25.6% and 5.0% of them were performing BSE regularly every month (Yurdakos et al, 2013).…”