| Learning Objective #1: State at least three health beliefs which are related to the increased performance of breast self-examination among registered nurses | |||
| Learning Objective #2: Understand the role of breast self-examination in the quest for early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer |
The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship, if any, of health beliefs, including self-care practices, and the performance of breast self-examination in registered nurses employed by a hospital in southern Georgia. A descriptive correlational design was used for this study, which was framed by the Health Belief Model (1986) and Orem's self-care deficit theory (1985).
Participants completed The Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS) (Champion, 1993). This instrument was used to measure susceptibility, seriousness, benefits, barriers, confidence, and general health motivation associated with breast self-examination.
Extensive data analysis was performed to determine frequencies and correlation of the research variables of health beliefs, including self-care practices, and the performance of breast self-examination. Kendall's Tau was calculated at 1.000 and was noted to be statistically significant (p = 0.001).
The following conclusions for this study were reached based on the data analysis: the majority of nurses in this study did not feel a personal susceptibility to breast cancer; although a majority of nurses (85%) in the study reported that the thought of breast cancer was frightening to them, only 33% reported that they were personally afraid of getting breast cancer; nurses in the study believed that breast self-examination (BSE) is beneficial to early diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer and that the barriers to BSE are minimal, if any; nurses in the study had gaps in their knowledge/confidence regarding BSE; and nurses in the study want to discover health problems early but often do not follow through with behaviors necessary for discovery.