Use of the health belief model in determining frequency of breast self-examination

The purpose of this research was to identify the relationships of attitudes about breast self-examination and breast cancer to the frequency of breast self-examination. The health belief model was used as a theoretical base. Likert scales were developed for the independent variables of susceptibility, seriousness, benefit, barriers, and health motivation; the dependent variable was frequency of breast self-examination. A convenience sample of 301 women was drawn from a large metropolitan city. Self-administered questionnaires contained the developed scales, a measure of frequency of breast self-examination, and demographic variables. Results supported the health belief model's prediction of frequency of breast self-examination (R = .51; p less than or equal to .01). In addition, the variables of seriousness, benefits, barriers, and health motivation discriminated groupings according to frequency of breast self-examination. Results support the relationship of the health belief model variable to the behavior of breast self-examination Nursing implications are discussed.