title: Health beliefs and breast cancer screening behaviors among Iranian female health workers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is a serious health problem. Early detection is crucial for optimal treatment and reducing mortality.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate health beliefs concerning performance of breast self- examination (BSE) and mammography in a sample of Iranian female health workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional study was performed among 441 female health care workers (physicians=88, nurses=163, midwives=38, officers=68, and others=84) in 3 different health centers in Yazd, Iran. Data were collected using a self administered questionnaire which included demographic characteristics and then Persian version of the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of the participants was 34.7±13.7. It was found that 41.9% of the workers performed BSE in the past and 14.9% of them regularly, but only 10.6% of them had undergone a mammogram. Perceived barriers to BSE (F=6.351, P=0.021) and mammography (F=5.214, p=0.022) were significantly higher in officers than physicians, nurses or midwives. Perceived barriers were lower among those who had performed BSE and mammography, but not significant (p=0.34 and p=0.56, respectively). Furthermore, perceived susceptibility and perceived benefits of the workers who had BSE and mammography were significantly higher than who did not (p<0.05). Perceived seriousness was not a significant variable in BSE and mammography (p=0.71 and p=0.43, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The health beliefs of health workers concerning the perceived susceptibility of breast cancer and the perceived benefits BSE and mammography significantly impact their screening practices.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, Yazd, Iran E-mail : g.kholasehzadeh@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Seyed Mostafa
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Shiryazdi
authors.forename: Golrasteh
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kholasehzadeh
authors.forename: Hossein
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Neamatzadeh
authors.forename: Saeed
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kargar
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016387:Women's Health; D055815:Young Adult