Women’s Experiences and Knowledge of Breast Self-Examination: A Qualitative-Quantitative Study
Motahare Pilehvarzadeh1, Hakime HoosienRezie2*, MoohamadReza Aflatoonian3, Foozieh Rafeti4 and Fatemeh Mashayekhi51Master of Nursing education, Lecturer of Nursing Midwifery Faculty, Jiroft university of Medical Sciences, jiroft, Iran. 2Master of Nursing education , Lecturer of Nursing , Midwifery Faculty, Kerman university of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 3Instructor, Research Center for Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran. 4Psychiatri care Nursing, Lecturer , Jiroft university of Medical Sciences, jiroft, Iran. 5Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, Lecturer Faculty member of Jiroft university of Medical Sciences, Jiroft, Iran.
Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide. This study was aimed to explain the experiences and knowledge of women in Jiroft city in iran regarding breast self-examination. This study was conducted with a combined approach in the research. After analyzing the quantitative data from the questionnaire, the perspectives of women on breast self-examination were examined through interviews. The age range of the subjects was 20 years to 51 years, with a mean and standard deviation of (29.5±6.43). In the knowledge section, 95.8 percent failed to answer any of the questions, and 96% of subjects in this section emphasized that no educational program is provided by the health care team to perform breast self-examination. There was a significant relationship between knowledge and practice of breast self-examination (p=0.001). The following themes emerged in the results of a qualitative approach: 1) the feeling the need for breast self-examination; 2) attempt to play a role in the family; 3) lack of training programs on breast self-examination. Women’s knowledge was found to be inadequate in relation to breast cancer and screening. Interventions to increase knowledge so as to achieve an adequate performance of breast self-examination, along with self-care and training programs, are tangibly needed on request.
Keywords: Breast Cancer; Breast Self-examination; Qualitative Research Back to TOC