title: [Breast self-examination by nursing professionals].
abstract: Most breast tumors are detected by women, not health professionals, therefore breast self-examination (BSE) continues to be an efficacious strategy. The study objective was to analyze BSE performed by nursing professionals and factors that hinder their perseverance in this practice. This descriptive study was performed with 159 professionals: 40 nurses, 48 nurses aides, and 71 health agents from 19 Basic Health Units located in Fortaleza (Ceará, Brazil). Data collection was performed using a self-administered questionnaire, and the analysis was based on the Self Care Theory. Of the 159 professionals, 86 (54%) performed BSE on a monthly basis. Of the 73 professionals who did not perform BSE, 60 (82%) reported the reason for that was forgetting, 38 (52%) for not trusting the technique/did not know the correct technique, and 35 (48%) due to lack of health care. It was found that although most women reported performing BSE, the professionals felt insecure and would like to learn better about this technique.
authors.affiliation: Universidade de Fortaleza, Bolsista de PQ do CNPq, Brazil. rmsilva@unifor.br
authors.forename: Raimunda Magalhães
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.forename: Mariana de Barros
authors.initials: Mde B
authors.lastname: Sanches
authors.forename: Nara Lívia Rocha
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Francisca Maria Aleudinelia Monte
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cunha
authors.forename: Maria Socorro Pereira
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009726:Nurses