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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Kathleen J. Young, PhD, Health Education and Promotion Department, University of New Mexico, Johnson Center Room 1155, Albuquerque, NM 87131, (505) 292-3704, kjyoung@unm.edu and Teresa Langston, Health Promotion and Education Department, University of New Mexico, Johnson Center Room 1155, Albuquerque, NM 87131.
The purpose of this research was to develop, implement, and evaluate a breast self-examination intervention program for adolescent women in May of 1994-2002.
The educational objectives for the class focused on increasing knowledge and skill in performing BSE, thereby, increasing the likelihood of regular monthly practice. Fifty participants, self-selected and randomly placed in either an experimental or comparison group, completed the study. The mean ages were 16.72 and 16.56 respectively. A pretest was administered which included demographic information, current knowledge and skill level of BSE, and familial history of breast cancer. A posttest was administered after the intervention was provided to the experimental group. The results of the posttest revealed a significant increase in the knowledge and skill level of BSE from the experimental group. A second posttest, administered 3 months later, measured the frequency of performing monthly BSE. This, too, showed a significant increase from the experimental group (as compared to the comparison group). A third posttest administered 8 years later (2002) was used to measure the participant’s present beliefs, knowledge and practice of BSE.
These findings indicate that this population was willing to participate in health education activities as well as short-term behavior change surrounding self-health care in 1994. Data collected at later intervals (February of 2002) will be presented and discussed regarding the results of long-term health knowledge and beliefs, practice, and potential benefits of a breast self-examination program for those women presently entering adulthood.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants in this session will be able to
Keywords: Breast Cancer Screening, Adolescent Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.