Knowledge, health beliefs and practice of Isfahan city health volunteers about Self Breast Examination: a cross-sectional study based on health belief model

Introduction & Aim: Today with people participate, could determine healthy needs of society, planning for provide them and perform programs with lean to their help. One of this people elements are, health volunteers.. According to exite reports,breast cancer is known as the most commen and the second cause of cancer deaths after lung cancer among women.The purpose of the curent study was to examin knowladge, health beliefs and practice of Isfahan city health volunteers regard to one of the breast cancer screening behaviors (Self breast examination). Methods & Materials: This cross sectional study was done among 160 health volunteers of urban health centers in Isfahan city. The method of sampling was simple. Data were collected with malty-section questioner including knowledge, demographic features, behavior and behavioral intention questions and Champion’s Health Belief Model Scale. The data collected were analyzed using SPSS16. Results: The mean age of participants was 46.52±7.06. In this study149 (93.1%) of the participants had poor knowledge about breast cancer and BSE. 91 (56.9%) of them performed BSE regularly every month and 24(15%) had high self efficacy for BSE.A significant relationship was found between knowledge, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, behavioral intention and have family history of breast cancer with performing BSE. Conclusion: Considering that result of the study and the important role of health volunteers in transferring and development of health knowledge in society and positive impact of education based of health belief model on increasing knowledge, improvement attitude and practice about breast cancer and breast self examination, it’s necessary to have educational program for them.