Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Breast self-examination: Knowledge and practices of Hispanic women in two southwestern metropolitan areas

  • Articles
  • Published:
Journal of Community Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The breast self-examination (BSE) practices of 1,453 Hispanic women in Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California were the focus of this study. Variables proposed as factors that influence the frequency and proficiency of BSE were demographic variables, particularly language and level of acculturation, having been taught BSE by a health professional, and experience with the disease. Results indicate that even though the majority of the women at both the Phoenix (78.1%) and San Diego (83.7%) sites had been taught BSE by a professional and most women in Phoenix (62.5%) and San Diego (63.4%) reported performing BSE within the past month, only 0.7% of the women at both sites were found to be proficient in the technique of BSE. Further, results indicate that language and acculturation were correlated with whether or not a woman performed BSE. These findings suggest that BSE education classes must provide information and techniques that promote proficiency in BSE, and must be designed to meet the unique needs of Hispanic women, particularly those of low acculturation levels.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wolfgang, PE, Semeiks, PA, Burnette, W: Cancer incidence in New York City Hispanics, 1982–1985.Ethn and Disease 1:263–272, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Cancer Surveillance Program 1982. Unpublished data. Los Angeles: University of Southern California, Comprehensive Cancer Center.

  3. Richardson, J, Marks, G, Solis, J, Collins, L, Birba, L, Hisserich, J: Frequency and adequacy of breast cancer screening among elderly Hispanic women.Preventive Med 16:761–774, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. American Cancer SocietyCancer facts and figures-1990. Atlanta, GA:Author. 1990.

  5. Caplan, LS, Wells, B, Haynes, S: Breast cancer screening among older racial/ethnic minorities and whites: Barriers to early detection.J Gerontology 47: 101–110, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Newcombe, PA, Weiss, NS, Storer, BE, Scholes, D, Young, DE, Voight, LF: Breast self-examination in relation to the occurrence of advanced breast cancer.Journal of the National Cancer Institute 83:260–265, 1991.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. O'Malley, MS, Fletcher, SW: Screening for breast cancer with breast self-examination: A critical review.J Am Med Assoc 257:2197–2203, 1987.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Feldman, J, Carter, A, Nicastri, A, Hosat, S: Breast self-examination, relationship to stage of breast cancer at diagnosis.Cancer 47:2740–2745, 1981.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Foster, R, Lang, S, Costanza, M, Worden, J, Haines, C, Yates, J: Breast self-examination practices and breast-cancer stage.The New England J Med 299:265–270, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Greenwald, P, Nasca, P, Lawrence, C, Horton, J, McGarrah, R, Gabriele, T, Carlton, K: Estimated effect of breast self-examination and routine physical examination on breast cancer mortality.The New England J Med 299:272–273, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Huguley, C, Brown, R: The value of breast self-examination.Cancer 47:989–995, 1981.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Lewis, PA, Charny, M: Who influences women to practise breast self-examination.Health Ed Research 3:1919–1925, 1988.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Nemoto, T, Natarajian, N, Smart, C, Mettlin, C, Murphy, G: Patterns of breast cancer detection in the US.J Surgical Oncology, 21:183–188, 1982.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hall, D, Adams, C, Stein, G, et al: Improved detection of human breast lesions following experimental training.Cancer 46:408–414, 1980.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Mayer, J. Solomon, L: Breast self-examination skill and frequency: A review.Annals of Behavioral Med 14: 189–196, 1992.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Gonzalez, J: Factors relating to frequency of breast self-examination among low-income Mexican American women. Implications for nursing practice.Cancer Nursing 13(3):134–142, 1990.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Elder, J, Castro, F, de Moor, C, Mayer, J, Candelaria, J, Campbell, N, Talavera, G, Ware, L: Differences in cancer-risk-related behaviors in Latino and Anglo adults.Prev Med 20:751–763, 1991.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Fernandez-Ruiz, I, Rodriguez-Contreras-Pelayo, R, Delgado-Rodriguez, M, Mellado-Garrido, M, Galvez-Vargas, R: Estilo de vida y nivel de education sanitaria en amas de case de un barrio de Granada capital [Life style and level and level of health education in housewives from a neighborhood of Granada].Aten-Primaria 6(2):80–86, 1989.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Vernon, S, Vogel, V, Halabi, S, Jackson, G, Lundy, R, Peters, G: Breast cancer screening behaviors and attitudes in three racial/ethnic groups.Cancer 69: 165–174, 1992.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gallup Organization, Inc. Report. Women's attitudes regarding breast cancer. Gallup Organization. Princeton, NJ, 1974.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Hailey, B, Bradford, A: Breast self-examination and mammography among university staff and faculty.Women and Health 17:59–77, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  22. O'Dell, C, Mangin, R, Leavitt, L, Levine, T, Moloney, S, Schwartz, F, Winton, R: Teaching employees breast self-examination, factors that may influence practice.AAOHN J 39:385–391, 1991.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Stillman, M: Women's health beliefs about breast cancer and breast self-examination.Nursing Research 26:121–127, 1977.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Hobbs, P: Evaluation of a teaching program of breast self-examination.International J Health Education 14:564–577, 1971.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Lauver, D: Instructional information and breast self-examination practice.Research in Nursing and Health 12:11–19, 1989.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Maddox, M: The practice of breast self-examination among older women.Oncology Nursing Forum 1(88):1367–1371, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Mahoney, L: Early diagnosis of breast cancer. The breast self-examination problem.Canadian Family Physician 23:481–483, 1977.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Turnbull, E: Effect of basic preventive health practices and mass media on the practice of breast self-examination.Nursing Research 27:98–102, 1978.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Daly, M, Osborne, C, Clark, G, & McGuire, W: Mexican American breast cancer patients have a worse prognosis (Abstract). Proc. Amer. Soc. Clin. Oncology, 1, C-18 (1983).

    Google Scholar 

  30. Kaplan, K, Weinberg, G, Small, A, Herndon, J: Breast cancer screening among relatives of women with breast cancer.American J Public Health 81:1174–1179, 1991.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wellisch, D, Gritz, E, Schain, W, Wang, H, Siau, J: Psychological functioning of daughters of breast cancer patients.Psychosomatics 32:324–336, 1991.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Cuellar, I, Harris, LC, Jasso, R, An acculturation scale for Mexican Americans normal and clinical populations.Hispanic J Behavioral Science 2:199–217, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Coleman, E, Riley, M, Fields, F, Prior, B: Efficacy of breast self-examination teaching methods among older women.Oncology Nursing Forum 18:561–566, 1991.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Edwards, V: Changing breast self-examination behavior.Nursing Research 29(5):301–306, 1980.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Hall, D, Goldstein, M, Stein, G: Progress in manual breast examination.Cancer 40:364–370, 1977.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Marty, P, McDermott, R, Gold, R: An assessment of three alternative formats for promoting breast self-examination.Cancer Nursing: 12:207–211, 1983.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Marin, G, Marin, B:Research with Hispanic Populations. Newbury Park, CA: Sage, 1990.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Green, L, Kreuter, M, Deeds, S, Partridge, K:Health education planning. A diagnostic approach. California: Mayfield Publishing, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Balcazar, H. Castro, F: In review. Cancer risk education in Mexican-American women: The role of acculturation, sociodemographic variables, and health risk factors.Health Education Quarterly.

  40. Assaf, A, Cummings, K, Graham, S, Mettling, C, Marshall, J: Comparison of three methods of teaching women how to perform breast self-examination.Health Education Quarterly 12:259–272, 1985.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Howe, H: Proficiency in performing breast self-examination:Patient Counseling and Health Education 4:151–153, 1980.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Public Health, San Diego State University, San Diego, California

    Nadia Campbell MPH (Project Manager), Joni A. Mayer PhD (Associate Professor in Division of Health Promotion) & John P. Elder PhD (Professor in Division of Health Promotion)

  2. Hispanic Research Center, Arizona State University, Box 872702, 85287-2702, Tempe, AZ

    Kathryn Coe MA (Research Administrator), Mary P. Harmon MA (Senior Research Specialist) & Felipe G. Castro MSW, PhD (Associate Professor of Psychology and Director)

Authors
  1. Kathryn Coe MA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Mary P. Harmon MA
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Felipe G. Castro MSW, PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Nadia Campbell MPH
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Joni A. Mayer PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. John P. Elder PhD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Work on this study was partially supported by grant 5 R01-CA57140-03 from the National Cancer Institute.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Coe, K., Harmon, M.P., Castro, F.G. et al. Breast self-examination: Knowledge and practices of Hispanic women in two southwestern metropolitan areas. J Community Health 19, 433–448 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02260325

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02260325

Keywords

Search

Navigation