The effectiveness of a nurse-delivered breast health promotion program on breast cancer screening behaviours in non-adherent Turkish women: A randomized controlled trial.
BACKGROUND
Few studies have investigated breast health programs to promote rates of having a mammography, clinical breast examination and breast self-examination among non-adherent Turkish women.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the effectiveness of a breast health promotion program on mammography and clinical breast examination use, breast self-examination frequency and proficiency (breast self-examination skills and lump detection), breast health knowledge and health beliefs about breast cancer screening in a sample of Turkish women.


METHODS
Experimental (pretest-posttest control group).


METHODS
A community-based setting in Istanbul, Turkey.


METHODS
190 Non-adherent women (intervention group=97, control group=93) aged 41 and older, residing in Istanbul, Turkey.


METHODS
The intervention group (n=97) received a 120-min breast health promotion program based on health belief model including a breast health education, film, breast self-examination instruction, and a booklet, a calendar, a card designed specifically for the study. The control group (n=93) received general information except breast health. Data were collected before the program, immediately after the program, and at 3- and 6-month post-program. The outcome measures are the mammography, clinical breast examination, and breast self-examination frequency, breast self-examination proficiency, breast health knowledge, and health beliefs (perceived susceptibility to breast cancer, benefits to mammography and breast self-examination, barriers of mammography and breast self-examination, confidence in performing breast self-examination).


RESULTS
The breast health promotion program significantly increased breast self-examination frequency and proficiency and breast health knowledge. No significant differences existed in mammography and clinical breast examination rates between the two groups at 6 months. The program was effective in increasing perceived susceptibility to breast cancer, perceived benefits of mammography and breast self-examination, and confidence of breast self-examination. No significant difference was found between the two groups for perceived barriers to mammography.


CONCLUSIONS
The breast health promotion program was effective in increasing breast self-examination frequency and proficiency in a sample of Turkish women. In addition, it appears to be useful in raising the knowledge of breast health, enhancing confidence in performing breast self-examination, and increasing most health belief levels.
Secginli
Selda
S
Istanbul University, Public Health Nursing Department, Sisli-Istanbul, Turkey. secginli@istanbul.edu.tr
Nahcivan
Nursen O
NO
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological; D024802:Nurse's Role; D015403:Nursing Evaluation Research; D010174:Pamphlets; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015397:Program Evaluation; D017010:Reminder Systems; D020377:Self Efficacy; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014421:Turkey