Breast Self-Examination Practices and Influencing Factors among Healthcare Professionals Consisting of Nurses and Midwives

Year 2025, Volume: 15 Issue: 3, 545 - 552, 30.09.2025

Simge Arik Girgin Nevin Çıtak Bilgin

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1561702

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the status of breast self-examination practices and the influencing factors among healthcare professionals consisting of nurses and midwives.
Methods: Descriptive study was conducted with 500 healthcare professionals, who are nurses and midwives working in four state hospitals. The data were collected using a personal information form, Health Belief Model Scale, and Scale to Measure Factors Influencing Women's Breast Cancer Prevention Behaviors. Descriptive statistics, t-test in independent groups, chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate the data.
Results: The findings showed that 49.8% of the participants practiced breast self-examination. The risk associated with the lack of breast self-examination practice was two fold higher in those whose income was less than their expenses, who did not experience pregnancy, and who had no history of breast cancer among first-degree relatives. A one-unit decrease in self-efficacy perception and information seeking score increased the risk of not performing breast self-examination 1.1 times.
Conclusion: The results showed that the rate of breast self-examination practices among healthcare professionals were low and income status, pregnancy history, family history of breast cancer, perception of self-efficacy and information-seeking behavior influenced breast self-examination.

Keywords

Breast self-exam , healthcare professionals , practices , associated factors

Ethical Statement

The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of Bolu Abant Izzet Baysal University Clinical Research Ethics Committee (date: 29.11.2021 no:2021/363) and Provincial Health Directorate (01.12.2021 no:49769843). We ran the study according to Helsinki Declaration. All participants gave informed consent for the research, and that their anonymity was preserved. We guarantee that all authors have contributed significantly to the manuscript. The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest. This study has not been published or submitted anywhere else.

Supporting Institution

yok

Project Number

Yok

Thanks

The authors would like to thank to all health care providers who participated in this study.

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