Effect of direct education on breast self examination awareness and practice among women in Bolu, Turkey.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate breast self examination (BSE) practice and the effect of a training program conducted by healthcare professionals on BSE.


METHODS
Women were randomized into control and test groups with both groups completing a questionnaire and three independent interviews where their BSE practices were evaluated.


RESULTS
In all, 39.5% of the participants were previously provided information on BSE by healthcare professionals while 25.8% had no knowledge of BSE prior to enrollment. Compared to those informed about BSE through other means such as television, radio, and the internet, the scores of the first, second, and third visits were higher (p<0.05) in individuals who received BSE education from healthcare professionals and hospitals.


CONCLUSIONS
BSE training provided by healthcare professionals may increase early breast cancer diagnosis and treatment rates by improving BSE awareness and practice.
Family Medicine, Izzet Baysal Family Health Office, Bolu, Turkey E-mail : sebahatgu@yahoo.com.
Sebahat
S
Gucuk
Ummugul
U
Uyeturk
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006266:Health Education; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching; D014421:Turkey