J Prev Med Public Health.  2019 Jul;52(4):224-233. 10.3961/jpmph.18.277.

Factors Affecting Breast Self-examination Behavior Among Female Healthcare Workers in Iran: The Role of Social Support Theory

• Bashirian
• Barati M
• Shoar LM
• Mohammadi
• Dogonchi M

• KMID: 2455126
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.18.277

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
In women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death. Screening tests are the basis for early diagnosis. In Iranian women, the mortality rate of breast cancer is high due to insufficient screening examinations and delayed visits for care. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors affecting breast self-examinations among Iranian women employed in medical careers.
METHODS
This cross-sectional study included 501 women working in the medical professions at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in western Iran in 2018. The subjects were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed, self-report questionnaire that contained demographic information and questions based on protection motivation theory and social support theory. Descriptive data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23 and model fitting with PLS version 2.
RESULTS
The mean age of the participants was 37.1±8.3 years, and most of the women (80.4%) were married. Most women had a bachelor's degree (67.5%). The findings of this study showed that the coping appraisal construct was a predictor of protection motivation (β=0.380, p<0.05), and protection motivation (β=0.604, p<0.05) was a predictor of breast self-examination behavior. Additionally, social support theory (β=0.202, p<0.05) had a significant positive effect on breast self-examination behavior.
CONCLUSIONS
The frequency of practicing self-examinations among women employees in the medical sector was low; considering the influence of social support as a factor promoting screening, it is necessary to pay attention to influential people in women's lives when designing educational interventions.

Keyword

Breast self-examination; Women; Breast cancer; Motivation; Social support; Iran

MeSH Terms

Breast Neoplasms
Breast Self-Examination*
Breast*
Cross-Sectional Studies
Delivery of Health Care*
Early Diagnosis
Female*
Humans
Iran*
Mass Screening
Mortality
Motivation
Self-Examination
Statistics as Topic