Study of the Women’s Breast Cancer Screening Behavior in Shiraz, 2016

Abstract

Introduction: According to the high prevalence of breast cancer in Iran and the importance of evaluation the attitude, behavior, and knowledge of women in the incidence of cancer screening, this study was performed with aim to evaluate the women's attitude, behavior, and knowledge about breast cancer screening. Methods: This cross- sectional study was conducted on 400 women aged >15 years who referred to Shiraz Imam Reza clinic in 2016. Data was collected by the questionnaire of individual characteristics and breast cancer screening. The data was described by the mean, standard deviation, and frequency. Data was analyzed by SPSS software (version 19) and Pearson correlation, independent t-test, and ANOVA tests. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The mean scores of knowledge, attitude, and behavior were 25±4.8, 27±5.2, and 18.9±3.7, respectively. According to the results of Pearson correlation coefficient, knowledge had stronger correlation with behavior (r= 0.24, p<0.001) than attitude and behavior (r=0.14, p<0.001). Knowledge had significant relationship with age, education, history of breast cancer and history of breast self-examination (p <0.001), and attitude had significant relationship with the history of breast cancer (p <0.05), and behavior had significant relashenship with education and the history of breast self-examination (p <0.05). Conclusion: Mean score women's behavior for participation in the breast cancer screening program was lower than expected mean scores (score 20).

Keywords

• attitude
• behavior
• breast cancer screening
• knowledge