The effects of an educational program on knowledge of breast cancer, early detection practices and health beliefs of nurses and midwives

Abstract

Aim: To determine the effectiveness of an educational program concerning knowledge of breast cancer, early detection practices and health beliefs of nurses and midwives.

Background: Educational programs play an important role in breast cancer preventive behaviour.

Design: The study was designed as an experimental post-test only, control group design. The educational program was applied only to the experimental group. The study group included 157,134 nurses and midwives respectively in the experimental and the control group.

Methods: Participants in the experimental group received an educational program on the breast cancer. One year after the educational program was delivered, data were collected from the two groups using a personal data form and the Turkish version of Champion's Health Belief Model Scale. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, chi-square test and Fisher's exact test were conducted in the course of the data analyses.

Results: The mean total knowledge score was significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group. The application percentage of mammography and clinical breast examination was higher in the experimental group. There were no significant differences between two groups in performing breast self-examination. The experimental group was significantly more likely to feel confident and motivated, and their total score on the health belief scale was much better than that of the control group.

Conclusions: The results of this study showed that educational intervention had a positive impact on knowledge of breast cancer, on practices related to breast cancer, on early detection and on the health beliefs in the experimental group.

Relevance to clinical practice: The educational programs, including techniques to increase the motivation and skills for early detection of breast cancer, should be made widespread in nursing and midwifery. Health beliefs should be considered in planning educational programs about breast cancer. Interventions should be designed to enhance nurses' and midwives' confidence and motivation.