Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze breast cancer screening behaviors in working women. Method: A total of 354 women over 20 years of age were recruited from three major occupational settings by convenience sampling. The Champion's Health Beliefs Model Scale-Korean version and a structured questionnaire for measuring regularity and accuracy of breast self-examination(BSE) were used. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, $x^$-test, ANOVA, and Duncan post hoc tests. Result: Women who have performed BSE and had both BSE and clinical tests were 49.2% and 32.8%, respectively, while 36.7% of the participants had none of the screening. The screening patterns were significantly different by individual characteristics of age, occupation, experiences of breast disease, education at workplace, and by the level of confidence in health beliefs (p<.01, p<.05). Only 4 % of women performed BSE regularly and the level of accuracy of the BSE was very low as well. Conclusion: Education at the workplace needs to emphasize the recommended guidelines and further increase the quality and results of the BSE for women's health.

Keywords

• Breast cancer screening;
• Breast self examination;
• Regularity;
• Accuracy;
• Working women