Beliefs and Behavior of Saudi Women in the University of Tabuk Toward Breast Self Examination Practice

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most frequent types of malignancy worldwide, Breast Self Exam (BSE) is considered as a simple method to screen and detect breast cancer, then early beginning of treatment and enhancing survival rates. Aim: To Identify the health beliefs about breast Self-Examination and its relationships with the frequency of BSE among the women in the University of Tabuk at Saudi Arabia. Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional correlational design was used; Champion Health Beliefs Model (CHBM) was utilized to assess health beliefs among 400 women who answered a self-administered questionnaire. Results: Among the 400 respondents, almost all the sample (382,95.5%) heard about BSE. However, only (7.8%) practiced BSE regularly each month in the past year, and (9%) is intended to perform BSE monthly in future. There was a positive relationship between performing BSE last year and the beliefs of susceptibility and confidence. While, intention to perform BSE in the future was significantly correlated to seriousness and confidence. Perceived barriers were negatively related to BSE performance in last 12 months and in future. Conclusion: Health beliefs affect the behavior of women in practicing BSE. Confidence was related positively to BSE in past year, and future practice, while barriers belief was as the negative factor to perform BSE.

Keywords: Breast self-exam (BSE); breast cancer; health beliefs model (HBM); Saudi Arabia.