DISPOSITIONAL OPTIMISM, SELF-EFFICACY, AND HEALTH BELIEFS AS PREDICTORS OF BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION

This cross-sectional study examined relationships among predictors of breast self-examination (BSE) derived from the Health Belief Model and behavioral self-regulation theory. Subjects were 427 gynecology outpa tients. Although 64% indicate that they had practiced BSE at least onc e during the past year, only 27% indicated they practiced BSE monthly. The majority of the subjects knew about most of the recommended BSE s teps. The most frequently endorsed reasons for completing BSE were ear ly detection, recommendation from a doctor, and peace of mind. The mos t frequently endorsed barrier was forgetting/being too busy. Multivari ate analysis showed that several psychological variables-including rea sons for doing BSE, self-efficacy, and barriers to doing BSE-were rela ted to frequency of BSE. Overall, the variables in this model accounte d for about 37% of the variance in BSE frequency.