Effects of Breast Cancer Fatalism on Breast Cancer Awareness among Nursing Students in Turkey.
BACKGROUND
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women and leading cause of death worldwide, including in Turkey. High perceptions of cancer fatalism are associated with lower rates of participation in screening for breast cancer. This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of breast cancer fatalism and other factors on breast cancer awareness among nursing students in Turkey.


METHODS
This cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted at three universities in the Western Black Sea region. The sample was composed of 838 nursing students. Data were collected by Personal Information Form, Powe Fatalism Inventory (PFI) and Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS).


RESULTS
Breast cancer fatalism perception of the students was at a low level. It was determined that students' seriousness perception was moderate, health motivation, BSE benefits and BSE self-efficacy perceptions were high, and BSE barriers and sensitivity perceptions were low. In addition, it was determined that students awareness of breast cancer was affected by breast cancer fatalism, class level, family history of breast cancer, knowledge on BSE, source of information on BSE, frequency of BSE performing, having breast examination by a healthcare professional within the last year and their health beliefs.


CONCLUSIONS
In promoting breast cancer early diagnosis behaviour, it is recommended to evaluate fatalism perceptions and health beliefs of the students and to arrange training programs for this purpose.
Department of Nursing, Bulent Ecevit University , Zonguldak, Turkey E-mail : hulyakulak@yahoo.com.
Hulya
H
Kulakci
Tulay Kuzlu
TK
Ayyildiz
Nuriye
N
Yildirim
Ozlem
O
Ozturk
Aysel Kose
AK
Topan
Nurten
N
Tasdemir
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D020377:Self Efficacy; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult