A comparison of strategies for influencing breast cancer knowledge, beliefs, and screening practices among Black women

Date

12/30/1995

Authors

Shaw, Mary Walker

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Abstract

The purpose of the study was to test for differences in breast cancer knowledge, beliefs, and screening practices between Black women from an economically diverse, urban community who participated in the Shaw Breast Cancer Intervention Module (SBCIM) and those who participated in a Traditional Intervention Module (TIM) in order to determine the effectiveness of the SBCIM. The theoretical frameworks for the development of the SBCIM were the Community Organization Theory, Social Support Theory, and Transtheoretical Model. In addition, the study sought to determine if a relationship existed between the frequency of BSE, breast cancer beliefs, and breast cancer knowledge among a population of Black women. Data were collected on 55 randomly selected Black women who were randomly assigned to either the tailored, multistrategy SBCIM group (n=29) or the Traditional (TIM) group (n=26). The SBCIM group received a multistrategy breast health awareness intervention developed by the researcher. The TIM group received an intervention that utilized a traditional, single strategy approach (i.e., video). Data were collected on 55 variables, which included age, marital status, educational level, influence of religion on daily living, pre and posttest breast health screening behaviors, pre and posttest Health Belief Model attitudinal variables, pre and posttest breast cancer knowledge levels, and pre and posttest willingness to participate in a one-time mammography event. Analysis of covariance revealed that there was a significant difference between the SBCIM (M=43.40) and TIM (M=31.17) groups on the adjusted posttest Confidence belief scores, F - ratio of 13.34, F (1,36), p.001. Multiple regression revealed that there was significant relationship between knowledge and posttest values on BSE frequency and attitudinal scale variables in a sample of Black women. A multiple r of 0.70 was significant at the level of.05. The posttest values on BSE frequency and attitudinal variables explain 50% of the individual's knowledge posttest score, R=0.50.

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Keywords

Social sciences, Education

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