J Korean Community Nurs.  1996 Dec;7(2):281-293.

Effects of the Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal on Breast Self-Examination Practice in Adult Women

• Choi YH

Abstract

Breast cancer ranks as one of the major health problems of adult women. Studies have shown that Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is effective in detecting breast cancer in its early stages. To motivate women BSE practicing, a nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design was conducted. Women 40 years or older who participated in the public education program for BSE from March 11 to April 6, 1996, were randomized in an experimental group(N=50) which received a letter about the Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal and in a control group(N=50) which didn't received a letter about the Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal. After 6 months, a follow-up phone survey was taken on all participants to measure the effectiveness of the intervention. Collected data was analyzed by one, two, and three-way ANOVA with an SAS program. The results are summarized as follows : 1. The level of the Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal of the subjects is high risk(17%), moderate risk(12%), boderline risk(14%), no increased risk (57%). 2. The intervention was effective in increasing the practice scores of BSE for women(F=5.12, P<.05). 3. BSE practice scores according to breast cancer risk appraisal level of the experimental group was not significantly increased after the intervention as contrasted with the control group (F=2.33, P>.05). 4. BSE practice scores according to educational level of the experimental group was significantly increased after the intervention, as contrasted with that of the control group (F=10.09, P<.001). On the basis of this study it can be concluded that the Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal increases practice of BSE.

MeSH Terms

Adult*
Breast Neoplasms*
Breast Self-Examination*
Education
Female
Follow-Up Studies
Humans