Predictors of breast self - examination among midwifery students using health belief model

Introduction & Aim: Breast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer and the second leading cause of death in women worldwide.Majority of cases of cancer of the breast are detected by women themselves, stressing the importance of breast self-examination.The objective of this study was to assess predictors of breast self-examination . Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was done on the midwifery students of Quchan Islamic Azad University from March 2017 to May 2018.Data were collected by quotasampling.The Persian questionnaire of Champion’s health belief model was used for the evaluation of the participants.Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to identify independent predictors. Result 152 midwifery students were participated.72.2% of the students performed breast self-examination and 27.8% was not done.After controlling for possible confounding factors, knowledge, perceived susceptibility, perceived severity and the net perceived benefit were found to be the major predictors of breast self examination.There was a significant difference in constructs of perceived susceptibility, perceived obstacles, and self-efficacy (p<0.05) between cases who perform self-examination and the ones who did not.In the prediction of breast self examination, only construct of perceived susceptibility and self-efficacy played a role in the self-examination. Conclusion Self-efficacy and perceived susceptibility are the most important predictors of performing breast self-examination practice.Therefore, educational interventions should be developed to provide comprehensive information on breast cancer risk factors, perceived susceptibility, and self-efficacy so as to improve the knowledge and skills, which will definitely contribute to the early diagnosis.