Objective To evaluate the effects of nursing intervention on the beliefs and behavior of early detection of breast cancer. Methods Four communities in Shanghai were selected by convenient sampling process. Then these four communities were randomly assigned to intervention group and control group. One hundred and eighty women who met the criteria of this study were selected from each group by convenient sampling process.Altogether 739 women were recruited. In intervention group,a one-year nursing intervention guided by health belief model was implemented,such as health education seminars,telephone follow in the third,sixth,and ninth months,and flyers of breast health care in the sixth month. Control group only received conventional education. Results After intervention women became aware of breast cancer (B=0.210,P＜0.01),perceived more benefits from attending early breast cancer detection (B=0.105,P＜0.01),and less difficulties in attending the activities of early detection of breast cancer (B=-0.086,P＜0.05). The number of women who performed breast self-examination once per month increased and more women received clinical breast examination (OR=3.0946) and mammogram after intervention (OR=2.746). Conclusion The nursing intervention,guided by health belief model,is helpful to improve women's beliefs and behaviors of breast cancer detection.