Breast cancer fear and mammography self-efficacy of women
Nülüfer Erbil (TR), Figen Baykal Top (TR)
[Erbil] Ordu University, Faculty of Health Sciences, [Baykal Top] Ordu University, Faculty of Health Sciences
Context: Breast cancer fear can be associated with breast cancer screening behaviors. Objective: To investigate the fear of breast cancer and mammography self-efficacy of women and the affecting factors. Method: The descriptive study was performed on volunteer women living in Ordu, Turkey. Participants: The sample of the study was included 305 women. Interventions: data were collected using a questionnaire form, Mammography Self-Efficacy Scale Turkish version and Champion Breast Cancer Fear Scale Turkish version. Main outcome measures: Evaluation of data was used descriptive statistics, t test, One Way ANOVA test, Mann-Whithey U test, Kruskal Wallis test, Pearson correlation test. Results: Average age of women was 51.28±8.31 (range 40-86 age). 18% of them had breast complaints, 58.4% of them had information on breast self-examination. It was determined that 51.8% of them done “irregularly” breast self-examination, 38% of them had mammography in the last two years. Mammography self-efficacy of women who education level was high, had health insurance, living in city, had a good sense of health, had acquaintances with breast, had information about breast cancer and breast self-examination, performed breast self-examination, working, performed breast examination by doctor were higher than other women, and differences were statistically significant. Average score of mammography self efficacy scale was 39.85±8.76. Average score of breast cancer fear scale was 30.36±8.47. There were no correlation between mammography self-efficacy and breast cancer fear scale scores of women. Conclusion: The breast cancer fear of women was high level and mammography self-efficacy of the women was in “good level”. It is recommended training programs to decrease breast cancer fear and to increase the self efficacy of women.