BREAST CANCER DETECTION BEHAVIORS IN LOW-INCOME WOMEN OVER FORTY: CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH FREQUENCY AND PROFICIENCY OF BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION.
Contributors: University of Maryland, College Park.
Published: 1994
Number of pages: 276
Subjects: Education, Health.; Health Sciences, Nursing.
Description: This research proposed to identify characteristics associated with frequency and proficiency of breast self-examination (BSE) in lower-income, underinsured women over forty years of age. It answered two research questions important to clinicians and health educators. The first question involved the determination of the predisposing, enabling and reinforcing factors related to the practice of BSE. The secondary multivariate analyses identified which factors explained the most variance in frequency and proficiency of BSE.

The sample consisted of 204 women who were enrolled in a Health Services Cost Review Commission funded screening program. The mean age was 55.1. Seventy-eight percent of the women were African-American and 32.8% were married. Forty-nine percent had an annual income of less than $10,000.00.

A 43-item, telephone survey was conducted by a single interviewer. The instrument included 102 variables conceptually organized according to the PRECEDE model.

Frequency of BSE was high in this sample, 41.7% of the respondents reported performing monthly or more often. However, the mean proficiency score was 3.4 out of a possible 19. Only 8.4% spent at least 10 minutes on BSE practice. Analyses of variance demonstrated no significant difference between frequency scores on the basis of race or marital status. Proficiency scores of white women were significantly higher than those of African-American women; 4.6 and 3.4 respectively. Proficiency scores of married women were significantly higher than divorced or widowed women; 4.1, 3.8 and 2.2 respectively.

The simple correlation between each outcome and predictor variable was assessed. Associations having a Pearson r of.25 or greater were secondarily analyzed. Part correlations were calculated, determining unique contribution of each variable. Significant part correlations were entered into regression equations and were found to explain 40% of the variance for frequency with four variables; confidence, level of confidence, awareness of mammography and influential teaching by a doctor. Eight variables accounted for 66% of the variance for proficiency; education, awareness of mammography, time spent on BSE, clinical influence, desiring reconstruction, confidence in BSE, knowledge of parity as a risk factor, and having been taught the correct time of month to do BSE. The association between the two outcome variables was significant.
Notes: Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 55-10, Section: A, page: 3101.

Thesis (PH.D.)--UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND COLLEGE PARK, 1994.

School code: 0117.