The influences of educational method, health beliefs and health behaviors on compliance with breast self-examination

This study investigated the relationship between health beliefs, health behaviors and conditions of learning breast self-examination (BSE) of 44 young adult college women and their compliance with BSE. Women included in the study were all students at a large southeastern university. Their age range was from 18 to 26 years.

Health beliefs, health behaviors, beliefs about breast cancer and BSE, and BSE compliance were measured by self-report surveys. Subjects were divided into three groups and were taught BSE using one of three teaching methods. All subjects heard a 15-20 minute lecture and viewed a film on BSE. Group B practiced BSE on a life-like model and group C received one-to-one teaching in a private setting using themselves as the model. Subjects were queried three months later concerning their BSE compliance and beliefs about breast cancer and BSE. Health beliefs, health behaviors, and breast cancer beliefs were correlated with BSE compliance.

Subjects who practiced BSE in small groups using the life-like models practiced BSE most appropriately. One-to-one teaching did not result in optimal compliance. Subjects who expressed the highest concern about their health were more likely to perform BSE appropriately. Nutritional health behaviors correlated with performance of BSE according to the recommended schedule but not with adequacy of the exam.

In order to maximize compliance with BSE nurses and other health professionals must identify more precisely the factors motivating or deterring women from performing BSE. Strategies to overcome these barriers may then be developed.