Application of the Champion Health Belief Model to determine beliefs and behaviors of Turkish women academicians regarding breast cancer screening: A cross sectional descriptive study

Breast cancer (BC) is an important cancer type and the most common malignancy among women in both developed and developing countries [1], and the second leading cause of cancer death in women worldwide [2]. It accounts for 30–40% of all the cancers in women all over the world [3]. Among adolescent and young women, BC ranks as the most frequently diagnosed invasive cancer, and represents approximately 25% of BC cases diagnosed among all women in the United States [4]. In addition, young women diagnosed with BC have a worse clinical course than older women. The incidence of BC in young women also varies by race, with young black women having a much higher incidence compared with white women in the same age group [5]. The incidence rate of BC is also increasing rapidly in Turkey, 45.1 in 100,000 women [6].

Even though the incidence of BC has increased, the death rate has fallen due to early diagnosis and effective treatment [7]. Although the American Cancer Society no longer recommends that all women perform monthly breast self-exams (BSE), all women should become familiar with both the appearance and feel of their breasts and report any changes promptly to their physician [7]. American Cancer Society recommends that women should undergo regular screening mammography starting at age 45 years [7].

Mammography, clinical breast examination (CBE) and BSE are recommended for the early diagnosis of BC [6]. In Turkey, national society-based BC screening is performed by the Family Health Centers (FHC), Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening and Education Centers (CEDSEC) oversight by the Social Health Centers (SHC). Although the main screening method is mammography, CBE is also performed for every woman who is screened in order to increase the efficiency of mammography. Furthermore, a consultancy service must be offered to every woman over 20 years of age to enable them to perform BSE on their own, to create awareness in the society [6]. According to the national screening standards for breast cancer in Turkey, BSE must be performed once a month over the age of 20; CBE must be performed once in 2 years over the age of 20 and once a year over the age of 40; and mammography must be performed once in 2 years between the ages 40 and 69 [6].

Beliefs have powerful effects on lifestyles. The Champion health belief model is a psychosocial model that is intended to explain health behaviors and to determine the factors that affect women’s BC beliefs and screening behaviors. According to this model, health behavior, which is the integration of individual perceptions and values directing people to certain ends, is directly related to the development of diseases [8]. Education and health beliefs are critical in the early diagnosis of BC in developing countries where the number of female university graduates is lower [8]. Previous studies have shown that most Turkish women do not carry out regular BC screening behaviors in practice [8‐10]. New policies regarding BC are constantly being developed in Turkey, which is also considered as a developing country. Thus, one of the goals of the Turkey Cancer Control Plan 2013–2018 is to increase BSE and mammography in asymptomatic women for early diagnosis [11].

The major function of a university is research, education and public service. It is widely accepted that academicians play an effective role in creating health behaviors. Academicians transfer information and interact with a large part of the population [12]. Female academicians are role models for other woman to protect social rights of women, to lead healthier lives and to assume responsibility for their own health. Academicians as are in a position to inform young people about BC risk factors, types of screening practices and thus affect their behaviors in a way that will reduce the risk of BC and mortality rates [12]. However, studies carried out with female academicians regarding this issue are limited [12‐14].

The specific aims of this study were to examine the projected risk of BC in female Turkish academicians, determine the levels of their BC screening behaviors and uncover the relationship between their health beliefs and screening behaviors. We also report the findings from backgrounds and educations of these women both in and outside health areas. The results would reveal if the women with education in health would practice, what they preach.

The response rate was 100% among participants. The mean age of the female academicians was 36.1 ± 0.53 years (minimum:23-maximum:60) and 51.5% were between the ages of 30 and 40. Of the participants, 57% were married, 67.5% were working in health field and 29.5% were assistant professors. Of them, 90% had nuclear families, 54.5% had more income than expenses, and 73% were non-smokers. Among female academicians, 52.5% did not take alcohol, 60% exercised sometimes, 20% had a chronic disease, and 13% had a mental illness. Of the participants, 7% had a family history of BC and 51.5% had given birth. Sixty-seven (33.5%) female academicians reported that they had been screened for BC in the last 6 months. Eighty-three (41.5%) female academicians reported that they performed BSE regularly on a monthly basis. Ninety-seven (48.5%) female academicians said that they have at least one CBE. Sixty seven (33.5%) participants expressed that they have performed at least one mammography. More than 50% of the participants said that they were in good health, 53.5% said they had normal eating habits, and 49.5% said they had regular sleep habits (Table 1).

Table 2 shows the participants’ scores on each subscale of the CHBMS: sensitivity, 7.7 ± 2.1; seriousness, 19.3 ± 5.1; benefits of BSE, 15.1 ± 3.3; barriers to BSE, 16.0 ± 5.3; self-efficacy, 22.0 ± 5.5; health motivation, 20.5 ± 2.6; benefits of mammography, 17.0 ± 3.3, and barriers to mammography, 22.6 ± 8.1 (Table 2). Evaluation of the mean scores for different groups and CHBMS subscales shown in Table 2 found that participants between the ages of 30 and 40 had higher scores in the area of perceived BSE barriers, that participants who were under 30 years old had higher scores in the area of perceived mammography barriers and that participants over the age of 41 had higher perceived self-efficacy scores. The analysis found that there was a significant difference within the subscale of sensitivity and school of employment and chronic disease. Table 2 shows significant associations between BSE barriers and income level, sleep habits, regular BSE and at least one BSE. There were some significant differences in income level, sleep habits, BC screening in the last 6 months, BSE training, at least one BSE, regular BSE and at least one CBE. There were relationships between the subscale of self-efficacy and income level, sleep habits, breast cancer screening in the last 6 months, BSE training, at least one BSE, regular BSE and at least one CBE. A relationship existed between the subscale of mammography benefits and income level. The low-income participants’ scores were significantly higher than those of the other income levels (p < 0.05). The subscale of mammography barrier scores of those who had not been screened for BC in the last 6 months and those who never had a CBE were significantly higher than those who had. There was a significant association between the subscale of barriers to BSE and barriers to mammography. The women who had mammograms had fewer perceived BSE and mammography barriers than those who did not have.

The characteristics of the group that was performing BSE and the group that was not were compared statistically. Table 3 shows significant associations between BSE and age, title, giving birth, BC screening in the last 6 months, BSE training, chronic disease and mental illness (p < 0.05). Working area (health or not) and family history of BC were not related with BSE (Table 3).

Tables 4 presents adjusted ORs for each subscale performing BSE, CBE, and mammography using logistic regression. Female academicians performing BSE had higher perceived sensitivity (OR = 2.88, 95% Cl 1.32, 2.66), benefits to BSE (OR = 0.90, 95% Cl 0.82, 0.99), self efficacy (OR = 0.87, 95% Cl 0.81, 0.93), health motivation (OR = 1.74, 95% Cl 0.50, 0.90), and benefit to mammography (OR = 0.97, 95% Cl 0.88, 1.08) compared to academicians who did not perform BSE. In addition, participants who perform BSE had lower barrier to mammography (OR = 1.05, 95% Cl 1.0, 1.09) than those who did not. Participants who had CBE reported higher self efficacy (OR = 0.91, 95% Cl 0.86, 0.97) and lower barrier to mammography (OR = 1.06, 95% Cl 1.02, 1.10) than women who did not. Academicians who performed mammography had higher sensitivity (OR = 0.84, 95% Cl 0.72, 0.98), lower barrier to BSE (OR = 1.08, 95% Cl 1.02, 1.15), and lower barrier to mammography (OR = 1.09, 95% Cl 1.04, 1.14) than those who did not (Table 4).’

Our findings show that the practices of BSE, CBE and mammography were 41.5, 48.5 and 33.5%, respectively. This rate has ranged from 27.1 to 42.7% in previous Turkish studies [8‐14]. However, these studies have shown that women in Turkey perform BSE at less than the desired level. Iranian women [17], Malaysian women [18], Qatari women [19], Saudi women [20] and Indian women [21] also have similarly low prevalence of screening for the early detection of BC. The results from these countries being close to those of Turkey may be due to similar socio-economic and cultural factors. Cultural factors, modesty and the use of Eastern medicine were shown to be significantly correlated with Korean-American women’s health beliefs and cancer screening behaviors [22].

The percentage of academicians in this study who perform monthly BSE (41.5%) was much higher than the previous Turkish studies conducted with academicians [11‐14]. Yılmaz et al. (2011) found that female academicians did the recommended BC screening tests such as BSE, CBE and mammography more than housewives [14]. These results suggested that the educational level has a positive effect on performing BSEs. Ekici and Utkualp (2007) reported that 20.9% academician women performed BSE [23]. Ceber et al. (2009) also found that 27.7% of female academicians performed regular BSE [24]. The most important factor in female academicians’ high frequency of BSE performance may be related to education levels and lower BSE barriers. Previous studies of the factors that affect screening behavior have identified these barriers: lack of information, fear and worries [20], fear of a cancer diagnosis, cost, lack of free time, forgetfulness and embarrassment [19]. Regular BSE ranged for Nigerian women to 54.8% [25] for Indian women to 26% [26] for Iranian women to 14.9% and overall 10.6% of women aged 21–53 years had received mammogram [27], while this percentage was much higher than the mammography practice of 51.5% in our study. Whereas, studies conducted in similar populations, the rate of undergoing mammography ranged from 5.1 to 25% [5, 9, 11‐14].

OR (Odds ratio) showed that positive attitude on the sensitivity, self efficacy, health motivation, benefit to BSE scales significantly all increased BSE performance. Sensitivity scale significantly increased mammography practice. Self efficacy scale significantly increased CBE performance. Less barriers lead more likely to the practice of BSE, CBE and mammography. Hence, by using the CHBMS construct, the health care provider can understand the beliefs that may affect the women’s BSE, CBE and mammography practices. Higher scores on all scales except for the barriers indicate positive attitude, as expected screening behavior, while for barriers, a higher score indicates negative attitude. In this study, perceived seriousness was not significantly associated with BSE, CBE and mammography practice. Similarly, in other studies on Turkish women, seriousness has been reported to be a nonsignificant predictor of BSE, CBE and mammography [8, 9, 14].

Our study found correlations between mean CHBMS subscale scores and age, school, income levels, chronic disease, sleep habits, BC screening behaviors, BSE training, performing BSE and CBE behavior. The literature includes few studies with which to compare these findings. Similarly, Demirkan et al. (2011) found that the age and profession affect BSE performance [28]. Fouladi et al. (2013) determined that there is a negative relationship between age and mammography barriers and a direct relationship between age and perceived sensitivity [29]. The current results are similar to those of Fouladi (2013). However, Dündar et al. found that age and educational levels did not affect CHBMS subscale scores [30]. Likewise, Altunkan et al. found that age did not affect women’s CHBMS subscale scores [31].

It is important to demonstrate that the perceived benefits of early diagnosis behavior are greater than the perceived barriers [32]. Low perceived barriers and high perceived benefits are important factors in women’s early diagnosis behavior. The results of logistic regression analysis found four CHBMS variables with significant risk ranges (sensitivity, BSE barriers, self-efficacy, and mammography benefits). This study determined that the women who did BSE had higher perceived sensitivity, fewer perceived barriers and higher self-efficacy than the women who did not. Similarly to this finding, Ceber et al. (2009), Çam and Gümüş (2009) and Yılmaz et al. (2011) also reported that women with high self-efficacy carry out BSE more frequently than women with low self-efficacy [14, 24, 32]. Female academicians’ high self-efficacy and health motivation may be related to their educational and social status in the population.

This study found, like previous studies, that female academicians who do BSE have lower perceived barriers [11‐14]. Turkish academicians had less perceived barriers and higher self-efficacy levels [13]. Jordanian women had limited knowledge regarding BC despite the national efforts to promote public awareness about BC and screening methods [33]. This difference may be due to the fact that academicians in Turkish universities are better trained and more informed about BSE practice than Jordanian women or due to cultural differences [33]. In some studies, sensitivity, severity, motivation and benefits were not found to be related to performing BSE [15, 32], but in others, these variables were found to be important preliminary indicators of BSE [13, 32].

It is surprising that there was no difference between the academicians in the field of health and academicians in other fields concerning CHBMS scores and BSE, CBE and mammography. However, individuals who have received health education and specialized in this subject are expected to have higher awareness, motivation, self-efficacy and benefit perceptions about BC screening behaviors and low perceptions about the barriers. It was thought that the similarity of the variables such as education and profession could have an impact on such outcome. In this article, the sociodemographic characteristics of female academicians with high educational level and the relationship between chbm scale and subscales were examined in detail.

The fact that this is a cross-sectional study and not including the longitudinal monitoring of the participants constitute its limitations. The data were collected by self-reporting. Since the frequency of BSE, CBE and mammography are based on subjective memories; the participants may have made mistakes in remembering the past history. The study’s sample consisted of female academicians and thus it cannot be generalized to the wider population of Turkey.

Female academicians in Turkey exhibit positive attitudes towards BSE, CBE and mammography as they have higher perceived sensitivity against BC, self-efficacy and fewer barriers. But there are still more room for progress. Also, women in health disciplines appear as not practicing what they preach. Further minimizing the barriers towards the screening behaviors can effectively persuade the academician women. Interventions should focus more on the practical implementations. Data on the health beliefs can be used to determine the critical factors that affect BC. Improved health education and implementation of critical strategies should further enhance the performance of BC screening. Long-term community-based programs should be extended to different groups of women from a variety of socio-demographic environments.