The Effects of Daughter's Breast Health Education on Mother's Breast Cancer Screening Attitude

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study was to explore the effects of breast cancer education for college students on their mother's breast cancer screening promotion. METHODS: This study used a one-group pretest and posttest design. Data were collected from September to November, 2007 from a sample of 80 college students and their mothers using a survey questionnaire, which asked about demographic variables, concerns over health and breast cancer, communication, stage of change and attitude (pros and cons) related to breast cancer, and confidence in breast self-examination. The college students received education about breast cancer for 50 minutes and then they educated their mothers about breast cancer. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics and paired t-test. RESULTS: The mean age of the college students was 22.0 years, and that of their mothers 49.4 years with a range from 43 to 58 years. After receiving education on breast cancer, there were significant changes in the mean scores of concerns about health and breast cancer, communication, pros in mammography, and confidence in practicing breast self-examination. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that education on breast cancer to mothers through their college-age daughters is effective and can be utilized to promote breast cancer screening for women.