Reviewer's report
Title:To predict factors associated with Breast Self-Examination behavior in a
sample of Iranian women: An Application of Health Belief Model
Version: 2Date:4 March 2009
Reviewer: ilknur aydin avci
Reviewer's report:
A study related use of breast cancer screening practices is an important topic,
especially with women in a country such as Iranian. The topic of breast cancer is
important to public health and in countries where mammography is not readily
available, BSE may be the screening method of choice.
***Additionally, the reported findings do not offer any new information on the
topic. Inthis reason, it must be written how is this study different? The list of
recommendations presented at the end of the manuscript is not different than the
recommendations of most similar studies. What new information does the results
of this study offer to the practitioner?
***Summary; Aim of study should be written as seperate.
***A discussion of the efficacy of BSE in detecting breast cancers early is also
needed. That discussion should also include the results of the clinical trials
related to BSE conducted in Russia and Shanghai.
***Study methods need to explained in more detail. The study sample is not
explained completely. Why were chosen 30 women from eight health center as
the sample? How is chosen these women, which method is used? What was the
power analysis for this study?
***What health services are given in these centers, primary, secondary or
tertiary? And are these women healthy or sick? This status is important in health
beliefs. It must explained.
*** It must given minimum and maximum scores of subscales. Readers want to
know what it means these scores.
***What is women’ BSE knowledge rate.
Ilknur Aydin Avci
Level of interest: An article whose findings are important to those with closely
related research interests
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: Yes, and I have assessed the statistics in my report.
Declaration of competing interests:
A study related use of breast cancer screening practices is an important topic,
especially with women in a country such as Iranian. The topic of breast cancer is
important to public health and in countries where mammography is not readily
available, BSE may be the screening method of choice.
***Additionally, the reported findings do not offer any new information on the
topic. Inthis reason, it must be written how is this study different? The list of
recommendations presented at the end of the manuscript is not different than the
recommendations of most similar studies. What new information does the results
of this study offer to the practitioner?
***Summary; Aim of study should be written as seperate.
***A discussion of the efficacy of BSE in detecting breast cancers early is also
needed. That discussion should also include the results of the clinical trials
related to BSE conducted in Russia and Shanghai.
***Study methods need to explained in more detail. The study sample is not
explained completely. Why were chosen 30 women from eight health center as
the sample? How is chosen these women, which method is used? What was the
power analysis for this study?
***What health services are given in these centers, primary, secondary or
tertiary? And are these women healthy or sick? This status is important in health
beliefs. It must explained.
*** It must given minimum and maximum scores of subscales. Readers want to
know what it means these scores.
***What is women’ BSE knowledge rate.