Using the Stage-Based Approaches to Predict Breast Self-Examination Among Rural Vietnamese Women

Prediction of Breast Self-Examination Behavior Among Omani Undergraduate Students Using Champion's Health Belief Model

Introduction

Breast cancer (BC) is a most common and frequently occurring malignancy of women worldwide. Breast self-examination (BSE) is important for the early detection and prevention of BC and to limit the morbidity and mortality. Young students are ideal people to understand and motivate other women to perform BSE.

Objective

BSE behavior of undergraduate students was predicted using Champion's Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS).

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted. This study was conducted in all nine colleges of Sultan Qaboos University, , Oman. Three-hundred eighty-one female undergraduate students were selected through convenient sampling technique. The health belief towards BSE was predicted using CHBMS.

Results

The mean and SD of beliefs about the benefits of performing BSE showed 10.84 and 3.2, respectively. Mean and SD of confidence in performing BSE indicated 56.24 and 10.8. Likewise, the mean and SD of barriers in performing BSE are 13.58 and 4.2. Source of information is found to be a statistically significant predictor of barrier in performing BSE at p < .05.

Conclusion

If the self- confidence of women in performing BSE improves, the women will uptake BSE more frequently thereby they can be prevented from developing the adverse consequences of advanced stages of breast cancer.

Assessing the Impact of a Patient Navigator Intervention Program for Vietnamese-American Women with Abnormal Mammograms

Breast cancer incidence among Asian Americans increased at a rate of 1.8% per year from 2014 to 2018, while the general population's incidence rate remained stable. Vietnamese-American women have been found to have the longest follow-up time after an abnormal mammogram. This study assesses the impact of a patient navigator program for Vietnamese-American women who received abnormal mammograms. Ninety-six Vietnamese-American participants with abnormal mammograms were assigned a Vietnamese patient navigator to provide emotional support, education, translation, and assistance with medical bills and doctor's appointments. Data collected from pre-test, post-test (1 year after initial enrollment in program), and 3-month follow-up surveys measured psychosocial outcomes and participant satisfaction. All 96 participants attended follow-up appointments for their abnormal mammograms. Psychosocial outcomes worsened from pre- to post-test, though these results were not statistically significant. Feeling in control of situations in one's life improved and was significant for participants who did not receive a breast cancer diagnosis (4.31, 5.04, p = .039). A majority of the participants reported satisfaction with their patient navigators. Vietnamese-American women have been found to be the least adherent to appropriate follow-up after an abnormal mammogram; in this study, all 96 participants attended a follow-up appointment within 90 days. Findings did not show improvements in psychosocial outcomes. Past research suggests that sociocultural factors may be at play: the initial abnormal mammogram may have triggered fatalistic thoughts affecting the reactions of the participants, even though the abnormal mammogram did not result in a breast cancer diagnosis.

Structural equation modeling to detect predictors of breast self-examination behavior: Implications for intervention planning

AIM

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant tumor among Chinese women. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a simple, effective method for early detection of screening and it is essential for the prevention and control of breast cancer. The aim of this study was to create a hypothetical model to determine the factors influencing women's BSE behavior in Eastern China.

METHODS

A survey was conducted using an online questionnaire and targeting 1200 women aged 18-70 years in Eastern China. Collected data were analyzed using ibm spss 25.0 and amos 24.0 software.

RESULTS

The final model showed a desirable fitness to sample data. A direct positive relationship exists between knowledge on risk factors and BSE. A direct positive association was found between positive attitudes and BSE, while negative attitudes have a direct negative impact on BSE. Objective factors not only had a significant direct impact on BSE, but also directly affected the positive attitudes. Positive attitudes play an intermediary role between objective factors and BSE.

CONCLUSION

Knowledge on risk factors about breast cancer, attitudes toward BSE and objective factors are new predictors which may influence BSE by using the structural equation modeling method.

Cultural beliefs about breast cancer in Vietnamese women

Background

This study examined factors influencing cultural beliefs associated with later-stage detection of breast cancer and determined what factors influence those cultural beliefs in Vietnamese women residing in a rural Vietnamese community.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 289 women aged 20–64 years from 12 villages using a self-administered structured questionnaire. Cultural beliefs were measured with a 13-item cultural beliefs scale consisting of four domains—characteristics of breast lumps, self-help techniques, faith-based beliefs, and futility of treatment. Data were collected in February 2017 and analyzed using chi-square tests, nonparametric tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and multiple linear regression analyses with SPSS/WIN 24.0 statistical software.

Results

Although the total score was relatively low (3.4 out of 13), cultural beliefs that could contribute to later-stage breast cancer were identified. Younger women (β = .15, p = .016) and women with a lower income (β = .21, p < .001) held more erroneous cultural beliefs as compared to their counterparts. Most women believed they would not get breast cancer if they took care of themselves. More than one-third held cultural beliefs about breast lumps, thinking they would need to be painful and/or actively growing to be breast cancer.

Conclusions

The results support the urgent need for education concerning breast cancer health promotion, including breast cancer assessment as well as guidance on evidence-based and up-to-date detection measures to change rural Vietnamese women’s cultural beliefs.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12905-019-0777-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.