Factors Predicting Breast Cancer Prevention Behavior of Women Working Outside the Home

Abstract

            The purpose of this research was to study the factors predicting breast cancer prevention behavior among 265 working women aged 20 years and over. Data were collected by health belief questionnaire. The reliability of the tools, knowledge, perception and behavior were tested at 0.89, 0.75 and 0.81 respectively. The data were analyzed by frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation and multiple regression analysis with hierarchical regression method.
            The results showed that the samples aged 21 - 79 years (Mean = 41.23, SD = 10.10), average BMI 23.04 kg/m² (SD = 4.71), 44.90% were office workers, 47.20% were never pregnant, 40.40% had hormonal contraception, and 58.50% never had a mammogram. The average knowledge score, perception of each part and behavior were more than 50 percent of the full score. The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that the perceived self-efficacy, history of having a mammogram and academic work characteristics, were contributing factors to predicting breast cancer prevention behavior by 26.8% with statistical significance at the .05 level.
            Recommendations from this study should educate people about breast cancer awareness, to increase knowledge of proper breast examination, and encouraging government and non-governmental agencies to have a policy for all women personnel in the unit to undergo mammograms. In addition, there should be a study of lifestyle, health behaviors of women with different job characteristics in order to develop a plan that will lead to preventive behavior adjustment for future health care.