Influence of others in motivating women to obtain breast cancer screening.
OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study was to examine the importance of influence of other people in getting women to obtain breast cancer screening.


METHODS
A descriptive study of 129 women completed the researcher-developed, Likert-type scale-Influence of Others Scale. A self-report questionnaire was used to obtain frequency of breast cancer screening behaviors (breast self-examination, clinical breast examination, and mammography).


RESULTS
The Influence of Others Scale had acceptable reliability scores. Comparison of the means and t-test analyses between those who performed the recommended screening behavior with those who had not revealed that the influence of family and friends and the influence of knowing someone with breast cancer were significant for each of the three screening behaviors. Regression analyses revealed that the influence of others was highly significant to the practice of breast self-examination and less so for mammography and clinical breast examination.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings underscore the potential importance of using specific women's social networks to reinforce breast cancer screening.
McCance
K L
KL
Mooney
K H
KH
Field
R
R
Smith
K R
KR
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires