The Knowledge of Nursing Students regarding Breast Self-examination: A Pilot Study in Northern Greece

Background: Breast self-examination is a simple and economical method for detecting breast cancer at an early stage. It is considered effective when is performed regularly and correctly. Aim: The purpose of this study was to investigate the knowledge and perceptions of nursing students regarding breast self-examination. Method: A descriptive pilot study was conducted on a convenience sample of 56 nursing students at the Nursing Department of a Higher Technological Educational Institute in Northern Greece. Data were collected using the Champion Health Belief Model Scale during October-December 2008. The response rate was 96.5%. Descriptive statistics were used for the statistical analysis. Results: More than half of the study participants (73.2%) stated they had received information about breast self-examination from various sources, primarily from doctors (37.9%). Α percentage of 96.4% considered the education for breast self-examination useful as part of the nursing curriculum, but only 57.1% performed breast self-examination. From analysis of the subscales of the Champion Health Belief Model Scale it was found that the first semester students had the higher mean subscale for confidence (36.62±5.63) (min 11-max 55), and the second semester students for health motivation (27.28±4.57) (min 7-max 35) and for susceptibility (14±1.82) (min 5-max 25). The 7th semester students had the higher mean subscale for seriousness (26±4.98) (min 7-max 35) and for barriers (18.84±1.83) (min 6-max 30) and the students in the higher semesters had higher mean subscale for benefit (24±5.47) (min 6-max 30). Conclusions: Nursing students know about the technique of breast self-examination and perform it in a quite high percentage. A larger study is required for further investigation of this matter in a wider context and for exploration of the correlations between the subscales of the Champion Health Belief Model questionnaire and demographic factors of the study population.

Category: Volume 49, N 4
Hits: 610 Hits
Created Date: 15-12-2010
Authors: Maria Lavdaniti , Anna Deltsidou , Lambrini Kourkouta , Maria Avramika , Despina Sapountzi-Krepia