Identification and comparison of factors affecting breast self-examination between professional nurses and non-nursing professional women
The purpose of this study was to compare breast self-examination (BSE) behavior of professional nurses with non-nursing women alumni, and to describe the factors which influence regular adherence to BSE. The age range of the N = 549 women was 22 to 72 years. The factors of knowledge, self-esteem, attitudes, beliefs and demographics were examined. The conceptual framework was Betty Neuman's Health Care System Model. A sample of 439 professional nurses was compared to a sample of 110 women alumni. The survey questionnaire was made up of Champion's Health Belief and Knowledge tools, and the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale. The analysis included a stepwise multiple regression for the independent variables and the demographic data. The study established that the professional nurses adhered to more frequent BSE practices than did the women alumni. Attitudes and knowledge were predictors for frequency; self-esteem was not. A small percentage of the variance was explained by demographic factors.
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