Health beliefs related to breast cancer screening behaviours in women who applied to cancer early detection center

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies affecting women in Turkey. The early detection methods for breast cancer have been associated with health belief variables. Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine women's health beliefs related to breast cancer screening behaviours. Methods: This study was designed as descriptive and cross-sectional survey and was performed on 344 women who applied the Nigde Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening and Education Center between May and October 2009. The data were collected using a questionnaire which consists of socio-demographic characteristics and breast cancer risk factors and Health Belief Model Scale. Data analysis was performed using frequency and Mann-Whitney U Test. All values of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: We found that 9.6% of women performed Breast SelfExamination (BSE) regularly and 54.5% of over the age of 40 had previously undergone a mammography (MMG). The subscales median scores related to Health Belief Model Scale were 6.0 for susceptibility, 22.0 for seriousness, 16.0 for benefits of breast self-examination, 16.0 for barriers to breast self-examination, 40.0 for confidence, and 20.0 for health motivation, 20.0 for benefits of mammography, and 22.0 for barriers to mammography. We did not find a statistically significant difference between the mean practice of breast self-examination and mammography and the Health Belief Model Scale subscales scores (p>0.05). According to study results, the rate of regular BSE performance rate for women was found low. Therefore, KETEM was planned to the training programs related to breast cancer screening methods. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2015; 14(3.000): 265-271