Aim: To describe health beliefs and breast self-examination practice of Turkish female nursing students and their mothers.
Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Turkish women. Breast self-examination is one of the primary methods for early detection of breast cancer in asymptomatic women.
Design: The study was designed as a cross-sectional and comparative survey. The data were obtained from 392 participants, including female nursing students (n = 196) and their mothers (n = 196) in Ankara, Turkey.
Methods: Data were collected by using a personal data form and the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale. Descriptive statistics, paired samples t-test, chi-square test, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients and logistic regression analysis were conducted.
Results: The percentage of nursing students who performed breast self-examination regularly was statistically higher than that of their mothers. The scores of health motivation, benefits and confidence were significantly higher in nursing students. The mothers' perceived susceptibility and barriers were significantly higher than their daughters. The frequency of breast self-examination practice was affected by the level of education, the mother's or daughter's monthly performance of breast self-examination and the level of perceived barrier to breast self-examination.
Conclusions: There were differences in health beliefs related to breast self-examination and its practice between nursing students and their mothers. The results of this study showed that monthly performance of breast self-examination was more common among women who graduated from high school and university, whose mother or daughter performed breast self-examination regularly every month and those with lower levels of perceived barriers.
Relevance to clinical practice: It is essential that nurses be aware of the factors that contribute to monthly performance of breast self-examination. Cultural factors should be considered in planning educational programmes about breast self-examination practice. Interventions should be designed to enhance nursing students' proficiency in performing breast self-examination.