Do Turkish Nursing and Midwifery Students Teach Breast Self-Examination to Their Relatives?

Aim: To describe health beliefs and breast self-examination (BSE) practice of Turkish female nursing andmidwifery students and assess teaching of BSE to their mothers, sisters, relatives.
Methods: The study wasdesigned as a definition survey, withe data obtained from 113 participants, in third and fourth class and theirmothers, sisters, relatives in Turkey. Data were collected by using a personal data form, knowledge evaluationform for BSE (Maurer 1997) and the Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale.
Results: Students had learnedabout breast cancer and BSE in their lessons one or two years previous to the study. Knowledge level scores of thestudents were 52.3 ± 9.63 (min:25, max: 75). Rate of regular BSE was 32.7%. When health belief scale assessed,the average susceptibility was 7.52±2.62, seriousness was 21.8±5.30, benefit was 16.7±4.45, barrier was 22.3±6.44,confidence was 40.3±6.67 and medical motivation was 26.6±4.22. A statistically significant difference in the rateof having regular BSE and benefit, barrier scores was noted (p<0.05). Regarding BSE training, 91.3% (n = 106)gave assistance to their mother and sisters, 42.6% (n = 48) to relatives, 6.2% (n = 7) to friends, and 5.4% (n =6) to patients.
Conclusions: Knowledge about breast cancer and BSE repetition training programs should beplanned for nursing/midwifery students. Their susceptibility, belief and attitudes, medical motivation with BSEshould thereby increase.