FACTORS AFFECTING WOMEN TO PRACTICE BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION

The aim of the study was to identify factors of decisive importance fo r women's motivation to perform breast self-examination (BSE), which c ould form the basis of an intervention programme. interviews were cond ucted in 1994 with 48 women focusing on four different areas: 1) why t he women examined/did not examine their breasts, 2) the influence of t heir upbringing, 3) information or education previously received about the method of examination, and 4) other types of self-care. The findi ngs were summarized under the following categories: feelings, experien ces, and lifestyle. Anxiety!fear of discovering a lump and faith:trust in one's own ability to perform the examination were dominating facto rs influencing the practice or non-practice of BSE. However, there was a general need for knowledge, theoretical as well as practical, among the women studied. They also needed help to identify a strategy to en able them to remember to perform the examination. In order to make BSE a habit, education about BSE ought to be provided to girls at school, The important role of nurses in teaching women to examine their breas ts themselves and in reminding them to perform the examination was emp hasized.