Abstract
Very little information is available about young women's breast self-examination (BSE) health beliefs and practice. The purpose of this descriptive survey was to determine if changes occurred in young women's BSE health beliefs, attitudes, knowledge, and performance over the first year of a registered nursing degree program. The convenience sample consisted of female students ages 40 years or younger who were surveyed at the beginning (n = 105) and end (n = 71) of the first year of the course. The Health Belief Model was used as the conceptual model in the study to measure the students' health beliefs and to calculate mean health belief scores. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results found students' BSE health belief scores to be high for perceived seriousness and benefits; moderate for susceptibility, control, and health motivation; and low for perceived barriers. These beliefs were not found significantly to predict or increase student's attitudes, knowledge, or performance of BSE, even though significant associations were identified between individual health beliefs. Students consistently reported positive attitudes toward the importance of BSE and in learning more about the procedure. Approximately one-third of students reported performing BSE monthly. No significant differences were identified in their BSE knowledge or performance over the year. Positive correlations were found between students' BSE frequency and their nursing experience as well as BSE instruction gained outside the course. In summary, no statistically significant differences were found between students' pretest and posttest BSE variables.