[Breast self-examination: identification of factors that may influence its practice]

The aim of this study was to identify the factors that influences the practice of breast self-examination (BSE) by nursing teachers. Seventy professionals were interviewed. Although all of them judged important the realization of the BSE, 20% didn't practice it. The identified factors were: the technical knowledge concerning breast cancer, the desire of early detection of possible alterations (80%), the lack of ability to identify those alterations, the fear of discovering some alterations and also negligence, possibly influenced by their beliefs and values about health.