Turkish Female Academician Self-Esteem and Health Beliefs for Breast Cancer Screening

Purpose: This study aimed to analyse female academician health beliefs for breast cancer screening and levelsof self-esteem. Materials and
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted between October 2010 andMarch 2011, covering female academicians working in all faculties and vocational schools at Ondokuz MayisUniversity, except for the ones in the field of health (n=141). Data was collected using a questionnaire developedby researchers in the light of the related literature, the Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale for Breast Cancer,and the Coopersmith Self-Esteem Inventory. Descriptive statistics, the t-test, Mann-Whitney U and correlationanalysis were used to analyze the data with the SPSS 13.0 statistical package.
Results: 53.8% of the participantswere single, 58.6% did not have children, 80.7% had regular menstrual cycles, 28.3% was taking birth controlpills, 17.9% were undergoing hormone therapy, 11% suffered breast problems, 8.3% had relatives with breastcancer, 78,6% knew about breast self-examination (BSE), 68.3% was performing BSE, 16.2% were performingBSE monthly, 17.9% had had mammograms, and 30.3% had undergone breast examinations conductedbyphysicians. The women who had breast physical examinations done by physicians had higher susceptibility,self-efficacy and health motivation, and fewer barriers to mammography than those who did not have breastphysical examinations.
Conclusions: There was a relationship between the female academician self-esteem andtheir perceived seriousness of breast cancer, perceived barriers to BSE and health motivation. Our Turksihfemale academicians had medium levels of self-esteem.