A comparison of writing exercises to motivate young women to practise breast self-examinations.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the novel use of written emotional disclosure procedures for motivating health behavior change, specifically engagement in breast self examination (BSE) among college-aged women. Writing instructions were tailored to a precontemplative stage of change in accordance with the transtheoretical model proposed by Prochaska and DiClemente (1983) to test the hypothesis that stage-matched writing strategy would facilitate greater contemplation than a stage-mismatched writing strategy and a control condition.


METHODS
Precontemplative women (N=55) were randomly assigned to one of three groups: (a) a stage-matched consciousness-raising writing exercise; (b) a stage-mismatched BSE action-oriented exercise; or (c) a control condition, and measured on contemplation, preparation, and action, as well as performance of BSEs.


RESULTS
Analyses indicated that both the consciousness-raising writing exercise and the BSE action-oriented exercise increased participants' level of contemplation when compared to the control condition. Women assigned to the BSE action-oriented exercise endorsed more statements indicative of an action stage of change and exhibited a trend for greater performance of BSE compared to the other two conditions.


CONCLUSIONS
The application of writing exercises and the relevance of stage-matching is discussed in the context of the stage of change model.
Smith
Susan L
SL
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
Kloss
Jacqueline D
JD
Kniele
Kathryn
K
Anderson
Shakesha S
SS
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009042:Motivation; D011214:Practice, Psychological; D016353:Self-Examination; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D014705:Verbal Behavior