Student nurses??? breast self-examination health beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and performance during the first year of a preregistration degree program

Abstract

Very little information is available about young women's breast self-examination (BSE) health beliefs and practice. The purpose of this descriptive survey was to determine if changes occurred in young women's BSE health beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and performance over the first year of a registered nursing degree program. The convenience sample consisted of female students ages 40 years or younger who were surveyed at the beginning (n = 105) and end (n = 71) of the first year of the course. The Health Belief Model was used as the conceptual model in the study to measure the students' health beliefs and to calculate mean health belief scores. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results found students' BSE health belief scores to be high for perceived seriousness and benefits; moderate for susceptibility, control, and health motivation; and low for perceived barriers. These beliefs were not found significantly to predict or increase student's attitudes, knowledge, or performance of BSE, even though significant associations were identified between individual health beliefs. Students consistently reported positive attitudes toward the importance of BSE and in learning more about the procedure. Approximately one-third of students reported performing BSE monthly. No significant differences were identified in their BSE knowledge or performance over the year. Positive correlations were found between students' BSE frequency and their nursing experience as well as BSE instruction gained outside the course. In summary, no statistically significant differences were found between students' pretest and posttest BSE variables.

Predictors of Community Women's Osteoporosis Prevention Intention - A Pilot Study

“…Nevertheless, the major correlate factor for intention was knowledge, not the OHBS. This is similar to the findings on the health belief model of Budden's (1999) study, but contrasts with previous studies (Ali, 1996;Champion, 1988;Chen, 1992;Lee, 1997;Post-White, Carter, & Anglim, 1993). In addition, higher scores for knowledge were associated with greater age of subjects, higher scores for self-assessed health, longer breast feeding time, and greater calcium intake.…”

Determining the Factors that Affect Breast Cancer and Self Breast Examination Beliefs of Turkish Nurses in Academia

“…In the second and higher classes, an increased susceptibility towards BSE application was due to more informative lessons concerning the disease's prevention, and psychomotor behaviour development in the higher classes resulted in the self-confidence of students concerning BSE application. This belief was supported by the study of Budden et al (1999). The correlation between the age of the nurses and the CHMBS revealed the following (Table 3).…”

“…The findings in the study by Karayurt et al support the findings in our study. Budden (1999) detected that the perception of seriousness and benefits were high, susceptibility and health motivation were moderate, and barriers were low. Ruda et al (1992) detected the perception of benefits as high.…”

Early Detection and Prevention of Breast Cancer: The Increasing Importance of Midwives in the Future

“…This sort of attitude toward BC and BSE may have emerged from their specific education and from their inherent motivation to learn as much as possible about clinical, psychological and other problems that affect women with this disease (Plesničar et al, 2004a;Plesničar et al, 2010). All these qualities make them better informed about BC than other women (Budden, 1999;Fischer et al, 2003;Frank et al, 2000;Gigerenzer et al, 2009;Jirojwong & MacLennan, 2002;Plesničar et al, 2004a;Plesničar et al, 2010). It should also be taken into account that due to their specific education and positive attitude toward BSE, midwifery students should be at the end of their study able to teach BSE to other women and perform CBE quite efficiently (Boulos et al, 2005;Miller et al, 2000;Mittra et al, 2010;Plesničar et al, 2004a;Plesničar et al, 2010).…”