Biomaterial Database

Factors influencing black women's breast self-examination practice. 1989

M A Nemcek

This descriptive correlational study of 95 black women was designed to investigate breast self-examination (BSE) practice and examine the relationship among the frequency of BSE and health locus of control, breast cancer knowledge and demographic factors. Results showed that the majority of women (67%) failed to follow the American Cancer Society recommendations and reported practicing BSE less frequently than every month. Over one-third of the women (35%) reported BSE practice less than every 6 months. Statistically significant associations were found between the frequency of breast self-examination and the variables age, prior experience with breast disease, and powerful other locus of control. The frequency of BSE practice was found to be age related with older women in the sample practicing BSE more frequently than the younger women (chi 24df = 12.81, p less than 0.01). Women without prior exposure to breast disease tended to practice BSE least frequently (chi 2 = 12.04, p less than 0.01). Belief that health professionals control a person's health, powerful other health locus of control, was strongest in women who practiced BSE least frequently (H = 9.43, p = 0.01). Breast cancer knowledge scores were found to be uniformly low with women answering only 57% of the questions accurately. Nurses can use this knowledge to develop interventions that promote BSE practice. Strategies are suggested for strengthening factors associated with practicing BSE.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007389	Internal-External Control	Personality construct referring to an individual's perception of the locus of events as determined internally by his or her own behavior versus fate, luck, or external forces. (ERIC Thesaurus, 1996).	Locus of Control,External-Internal Control,Sense of Control,Control Locus,Control, External-Internal,Controls, External-Internal,Controls, Internal-External,Internal-External Controls
D008875	Middle Aged	An adult aged 45 - 64 years.	Middle Age
D010173	Palpation	Application of fingers with light pressure to the surface of the body to determine consistence of parts beneath in physical diagnosis; includes palpation for determining the outlines of organs.	Palpations
D001741	Black or African American	A person having origins in any of the black racial groups of Africa (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/10/30/97-28653/revisions-to-the-standards-for-the classification-of-federal-data-on-race-and-ethnicity). In the United States it is used for classification of federal government data on race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity terms are self-identified social construct and may include terms outdated and offensive in MeSH to assist users who are interested in retrieving comprehensive search results for studies such as in longitudinal studies.	African American,African Americans,African-American,Afro-American,Afro-Americans,Black Americans,Blacks,Negroes,African-Americans,Negro,Afro American,Afro Americans,American, African,American, Black,Black American
D001940	Breast	In humans, one of the paired regions in the anterior portion of the THORAX. The breasts consist of the MAMMARY GLANDS, the SKIN, the MUSCLES, the ADIPOSE TISSUE, and the CONNECTIVE TISSUES.	Breasts
D001943	Breast Neoplasms	Tumors or cancer of the human BREAST.	Breast Cancer,Breast Tumors,Cancer of Breast,Breast Carcinoma,Cancer of the Breast,Human Mammary Carcinoma,Malignant Neoplasm of Breast,Malignant Tumor of Breast,Mammary Cancer,Mammary Carcinoma, Human,Mammary Neoplasm, Human,Mammary Neoplasms, Human,Neoplasms, Breast,Tumors, Breast,Breast Carcinomas,Breast Malignant Neoplasm,Breast Malignant Neoplasms,Breast Malignant Tumor,Breast Malignant Tumors,Breast Neoplasm,Breast Tumor,Cancer, Breast,Cancer, Mammary,Cancers, Mammary,Carcinoma, Breast,Carcinoma, Human Mammary,Carcinomas, Breast,Carcinomas, Human Mammary,Human Mammary Carcinomas,Human Mammary Neoplasm,Human Mammary Neoplasms,Mammary Cancers,Mammary Carcinomas, Human,Neoplasm, Breast,Neoplasm, Human Mammary,Neoplasms, Human Mammary,Tumor, Breast
D005260	Female		Females
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D001294	Attitude to Health	Public attitudes toward health, disease, and the medical care system.	Health Attitude,Attitude, Health,Attitudes, Health,Health Attitudes,Health, Attitude to