FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION BEHAVIOR AMONG CHINESE WOMEN IN HONG-KONG

The purpose of this study was to examine factors predicting the practi ce of breast self-examination behaviour among Chinese women in Hong Ko ng using a cross-sectional survey research design. The Health Belief M odel was used as the theoretical framework for the study to examine di fferences between breast self-examination practicers and non-practicer s and among breast self-examination frequency groups. Data were collec ted from a convenience sample of 124 women using self-administrated qu estionnaires. Less than half of the sample practised breast self-exami nation and only 16% of the practicers performing breast self-examinati on monthly. There were differences between practicers vs. non-practice rs and among breast self-examination frequency groups and some support of the predictive power of the Health Belief Model was found. Logisti c regression showed that practicers perceived health as important, hav ing fewer barriers and higher susceptibility to breast cancer. Discrim inant function analysis revealed that barriers and children status wer e strong predictors of frequency of breast self-examination practice e xplaining 21.1% of the total variance in breast self-examination pract ice. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science ireland Ltd.