Comparison of the Levels of Fear and Perceived Social Support among the Women Having and Not Having Mammography

Abstract

Objective: Mammography rates are low and psychosocial factors may affect mammography behavior in Turkey. This study aims to compare levels of fear and perceived social support and to examine factors associated with mammography behaviour among women who did and did not have a mammography. Materials and Methods: This is comparative- descriptive and cross-sectional study. Data were collected from women who were 40 years and older in two Family Health Centres in Denizli between April 1–July 1, 2018. Descriptive characteristics questionnaire form, Breast Cancer Fear Scale and Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) were used as data collection tools. Results: Significant differences were found between marital status, knowledge about breast cancer, breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) status and mean MSPSS scores between both groups (p<0.05). There was not a statistically significant difference between groups concerning mean fear scores (p>0.05). LR analysis revealed that being married (OR: 0.08) and obtaining information about breast cancer previously (OR: 0.15) were found to affect mammography behaviour positively (p<0.05). Conclusion: Being married and obtaining information about breast cancer positively affected their behaviours of having a mammography. Primary health care professionals should inform women over the age of forty about breast cancer and screening and refer them to mammography. In addition, it is also important to strengthen the referral of single people to mammography.

Keywords

• mammography
• perceived social support
• breast cancer fear
• primary health care