Differences in Health Belief by Compliance Level with Breast Self-Examination and Predictors of BSE among Women

Park, Kyung Yeon

Abstract

PURPOSE
The purpose of this study was to explore differences in health belief by compliance level with breast self-examination (BSE) and the predictors of BSE compliance among women. METHOD: Using a convenience sampling method, 163 women were selected for the sample. Data were measured for each participant during the period between December 2008 and February 2009, and analyzed by chi-square test, t-test, Kruskal-Wallis test with post hoc, and logistic regression analysis. Samples were categorized into three groups by the compliance level of BSE for the last 6 months: Never-performers (i.e, women who had never performed BSE), irregularly- performers (i.e, women who performed BSE at least once), and regularly-performers (i.e, women who performed monthly BSE). RESULT: Significant differences were reported among never-performers, irregularly-performers and regularly- performers correlated to age, level of education, mammography, ultrasonography, clinical examination, benefit, and confidence. There was no significant difference between irregularly-performers and regularly performers. The significant factor influencing compliance with BSE was 'confidence', which explained 33.7% of the variance in compliance with BSE.
CONCLUSION
Women who had more confidence in their ability to perform BSE were more likely to practice BSE. It is necessary to develop the strategy to enforce woman's confidence in complying with BSE.