Promotion of breast self-exam behavior: an attempt to modify health beliefs.
The aim of this project was to alter health beliefs to promote the regular practice of breast self-examination (BSE). A total of fifty-seven female university students ranging in age from nineteen to forty-four were selected to participate. Experimental subjects viewed a videotaped message designed to educate them about breast cancer and BSE. Control subjects viewed a presentation about preventive health behaviors other than BSE. The no-treatment control subjects received no behavioral intervention. All subjects completed a pretest and posttest measure of health beliefs. Follow-up data obtained included BSE reports each month for a six-month period for experimental and control subjects. The overall rate of BSE for both the experimental and control subjects increased at the outset of the experiment and declined during the course of the project. The present investigation appeared to be as successful as other interventions attempting to encourage the regular practice of BSE.
Bottimore
A H
AH
University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.
Ailey
B J
BJ