Table 3.
Comparison of Health Belief Model items among performers and non-performers of BSE (Score range: 1-5)
| Performing BSE | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Item | Yes (regular/irregular) | No (never done) | t* | p |
| Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | |||
| Susceptibility | ||||
| 1. It is likely that I will get breast cancer | 2.63(1.1) | 2.45(1.02) | 1.24 | 0.21 |
| 2. My chances of getting breast cancer in the next few years are great | 2.76(1.03) | 2.73(1.05) | 0.17 | 0.86 |
| 3. I feel I will get breast cancer sometime during my life | 2.41(1.07) | 2.43(1.04) | -0.17 | 0.86 |
| Seriousness | ||||
| 4. The thought of breast cancer scares me | 3.86(1.2) | 3.81(1.25) | 0.29 | 0.76 |
| 5. When I think about breast cancer, my heart beats faster | 3.85(1.3) | 3.68(1.2) | 0.96 | 0.34 |
| 6. I am afraid to think about breast cancer | 3.75(1.3) | 3.77(1.2) | -0.14 | 0.88 |
| 7. Problems I would experience with breast cancer would last a long time | 3.41(1.2) | 3.33(1.2) | 0.43 | 0.67 |
| 8. Breast cancer would threaten a relationship with my husband | 3.06(1.4) | 3.17(1.2) | -0.58 | 0.56 |
| 9. If I had breast cancer my whole life would change | 3.64(1.3) | 3.63(1.2) | 0.06 | 0.95 |
| Benefit BSE | ||||
| 10. When I do BSE, I am doing something to take care of myself | 4.30(0.9) | 4.17(1.01) | 0.92 | 0.35 |
| 11. Completing BSE each month may help me find breast lumps early | 4.42(0.78) | 4.26(0.87) | 1.30 | 0.19 |
| 12. Regular BSE decreases the rate of death from breast cancer | 4.43(0.75) | 4.18(0.96) | 2.01 | 0.04** |
| 13. If I find a lump early through BSE, my treatment for breast cancer may not be as bad | 4.23(1.01) | 4.04(1.04) | 1.35 | 0.17 |
| Barrier BSE | ||||
| 14. BSE is embarrassing to me | 1.69(0.93) | 2.15(1.18) | -2.98 | 0.003** |
| 15. BSE takes too much time | 1.65(0.88) | 2.08(1.07) | -3.03 | 0.003** |
| 16. It is hard to remember to do breast examination | 1.97(1.15) | 2.45(1.18) | -2.95 | 0.003** |
| 17. I don't have enough privacy to do breast examination | 1.63(0.87) | 2.20(1.17) | -3.77 | <0.001** |
| 18. BSE is not necessary if you have a breast exam by a healthcare provider | 2.89(1.5) | 2.87(1.3) | 0.08 | 0.93 |
| 19. BSE is not necessary if you have a routine mammogram | 3.02(1.4) | 2.95(1.3) | 0.36 | 0.71 |
| 20. My breast too large for me to complete BSE | 1.80(0.96) | 1.94(0.93) | -1.08 | 0.27 |
| 21. I have other problems more important than doing BSE | 1.88(1.1) | 2.15(1.1) | -1.75 | 0.08 |
| BSE self-efficacy | ||||
| 22. I know how to perform BSE | 3.68(1.1) | 3.06(1.2) | 3.67 | <0.001** |
| 23. I can perform BSE correctly | 3.50(1.2) | 3.00(1.2) | 2.93 | 0.004** |
| 24. I could find a breast lump by performing BSE | 3.73(1.05) | 3.14(1.1) | 3.72 | <0.001** |
| 25. I am able to find a breast lump that is the size of a walnut | 3.90(1.2) | 3.34(1.2) | 3.35 | <0.001** |
| 26. I am able to find a breast lump that is the size of a hazelnut | 3.57(1.2) | 3.05(1.2) | 3.11 | 0.002** |
| 27. I am able to find a breast lump that is the size of a pea | 2.75(1.3) | 2.68(1.2) | 0.34 | 0.73 |
| 28. I am sure of the steps to follow for doing BSE | 3.45(1.1) | 2.91(1.2) | 3.07 | 0.002** |
| 29. I am able to tell something is wrong with my breast when doing BSE | 3.84(1.02) | 3.18(1.2) | 4.05 | <0.001** |
| 30. I am able to tell something is wrong with my breast when I look in the mirror | 2.84(1.2) | 2.77(1.2) | 0.39 | 0.69 |
| 31. I can use the correct part of my fingers when examining my breasts | 3.61(1.1) | 3.07(1.2) | 3.17 | 0.002** |
*t-test **significant