Attitudes, practices, and role of nurses in the use of mammography

This research examined the mammography behavior of 145 nurses as well as their patient teaching practices about mammography. A subsample of 100 were identified as compliant or noncompliant with mammogram screening guidelines. Nurses who complied and those who did not comply were not significantly different on variables of age, licensure, education level, or clinical practice setting. Nor was a positive family history associated with compliance. In patient teaching about mammography, only 25% of nurses reported teaching. The vast majority of nurses, 75%, rarely or only occasionally did the patient teaching. Reasons cited for not teaching included not thinking about it and feeling unqualified to do this teaching. However, all nurses thought it was important for educating nurses about the need to teach women about mammography screening. The health belief model was applied as a framework for further research exploring nurses educating women about mammography.