title: Factors influencing breast cancer screening behavior among Iranian women.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Early detection of breast cancer is of great importance to improve women's health and to decrease the cost related to cancer death. Therefore, recognition of variables related to breast cancer screening behaviors is necessary. Objectives of this study were to identify the rates of breast self-examination (BSE) performance and mammography use in Iranian women, and to characterize the demographic and cognitive factors associated with their breast cancer screening behavior.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected from a convenience sample of 388 females, using an adapted version of Champion's revised Health Belief Model Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that 7.5% of the participants performed BSE on a regular monthly basis, and among the women aged 40 and older, 14.3% reported having had at least one mammography in their lifetime. Perceived self-efficacy and perceived barriers to BSE were significant predictors for BSE performance. For having mammography, health motivation was the main predictor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Eliminating barriers and increasing perceived self-efficacy with an emphasis to make the women acquainted with BSE performance; as well as increasing health motivation of women and persuading of physicians for clinical breast examination (CBE) performance with low cost and free access to m ammography, are important to promote BSE and mammography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences, Bushehr, Iran. azitanoroozi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Azita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Noroozi
authors.forename: Rahim
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tahmasebi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health