Effectiveness of breast self-examination education among korean women.
- Author:
Ho Cheol SHIN
;
Whan Seok CHOI
- Publication Type:Original Article ; Randomized Controlled Trial
- Keywords:
breast self-examination;
patient education;
breast cancer;
screening test
- MeSH:
Adult;
Breast Neoplasms;
Breast Self-Examination*;
Breast*;
Causality;
Education*;
Female;
Follow-Up Studies;
Humans;
Interviews as Topic;
Logistic Models;
Mortality;
Outpatients;
Pamphlets;
Patient Education as Topic;
Physicians, Family;
Prevalence;
Risk Factors
- From:Journal of the Korean Academy of Family Medicine
1998;19(6):467-480
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is increasing cause of cancer-related mortality among Korean women. Early detection and treatment are the most important strategy for reducing breast cancer mortality. Despite of its importance as a early detection method, a low percentage of women practice breast self-examination(BSE) regularly. The aim of this study was to describe the effectiveness of patient education on performing BSE regularly and to identify predisposing factors associated with these activities. METHODS: Sixty-six women who did not have experience in BSE in the past were randomly assigned to the experimental group and the control group. We taught BSE knowledge and skill about BSE using breast models and audiovisual equipment for experimental group in patient education class. Women in control group, however, were simply educated by their physician about BSE knowledge and skill with only educational booklet during their outpatient visits. We observed the difference in regular BSE performance proportion between two groups 6, 12 months later and analyzed the predisposing factors affecting on the education effect. Direct and telephone interview methods were used to gather the information. Data were analyzed with t-test, x2analysis and logistic regression using SAS 6.10, EGRET program. RESULTS: There were no differences in sociodemographic characteristics between study groups. They were followed for 12 months. At follow-up after 6 months 44.1% of women performed BSE regularly among experimental group and 18.8% of women did it among control group(OR=3.4, 95% Cl 1.1-10.4, p<0.05). At follow-up after 12 months proportion of women performed BSE regularly in experimental group(28.6%) was slightly higher than that of control group(22.2%), but that difference was not statistically significant. The prevalence of performing BSE regularly was higher among women who had experience in periodic health examination(OR =6.0, 95% Cl 1.9-18.8, p<0.01), who had experience in mammography(OR =4.0, 95% Cl 1.0-15.6, p<0.05). And the prevalence of performing BSE regularly also was higher among women who were older than 40 years old, married, had experience in cervical Pap. smear, had knowledge about BSE before education, have done exercise regularly, had less number of health risk factors, but without statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: These results showed that of effectiveness of patient education on BSE, if we determine the effectiveness of BSE education with regular performance of BSE, is relatively low among Korean women. We could see, however, that if we use breast models for demonstration in addition to usual educational material, the effectiveness of BSE education can be more effective. We also recognized that effectiveness of BSE education will not be continued for long time without any maintenance strategy. There were lots of predisposing factors which could affect the effectiveness of BSE education positively or negatively. So, family physicians who plan BSE patient education at their clinics must consider these factors.
