Help-seeking intentions for breast-cancer symptoms: a comparison of the self-regulation model and the theory of planned behaviour.
OBJECTIVE
Delays in seeking help for symptoms have been found to be associated with poorer outcome in breast-cancer patients. This study explores symptom perceptions and health beliefs as predictors of intentions to seek medical help in a general female population. The utility of the self-regulation model of illness cognition and the theory of planned behaviour were examined in predicting help-seeking intentions for potential symptoms of breast cancer in a general population sample.


METHODS
A general population sample of 546 women completed a postal questionnaire comprising items examining components of the self-regulation model and the theory of planned behaviour. Help-seeking intention was determined by asking participants to rate the likelihood of visiting their GP for a range of breast symptoms.


RESULTS
Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the cognitive component of the self-regulation model accounted for approximately 22% of the variance in help-seeking intention. Identity (beta = 0.45, p <.001) emerged as a significant predictor of intention to seek help. Inclusion of the components of the theory of planned behaviour accounted for an additional 7% of the variance; the significant predictors were attitude to help-seeking (beta = 0.19, p <.001) and perceived behavioural control (beta = 0.12, p <.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Intention to seek medical help for a potential breast-cancer symptom may be mediated, partly, by cognitive representations of the identity and consequences of breast cancer and by attitudes towards help-seeking and perceived behavioural control. Although less than one-third of the variance was accounted for, these results have important implications for future research (in terms of identifying which variables should be examined) and for the development of a model of help-seeking behaviour in women with breast-cancer symptoms.
Hunter
Myra S
MS
ICRF Psychosocial Oncology Group, Guy's, King's and St Thomas' Medical School, St Thomas' Hospital, London, UK.
Grunfeld
Elizabeth A
EA
Ramirez
Amanda J
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D003071:Cognition; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012927:Social Control, Informal; D013997:Time Factors