Background and Aim: Breast self examination (BSE) is the best way for breast cancer screening, but most women do not have a positive attitude toward it. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a training curriculum on BSE attitude of the female students of Shahid Hasheminezhad Teacher's Training College in the year 2000.
Materials and Methods: In this before and after clinical trial, 84 suitable undergraduate female students were selected by stratified random sampling. Before training, the baseline attitude of all of the students was evaluated (pretest) and then two training sessions consisting of theory and instruction on breast cancer and its diagnostic methods were held. Practical method of BSE was also held twice a week. Three days after training (post test) and one month later (consistency test) BSE attitude was evaluated again. Attitude was measured through a questionnaire by using Champion health belief model (HBM). According to the acquired score, the attitude of the students was classified into three categories: positive, uncertain, and negative.
Results: Data analysis indicated that before training, 44% of the subjects had positive attitude about BSE while after three days (post test) 94% and after one month (consistency test) 97.6% of the subjects had positive attitude. The mean attitude score in posttest and consistency test was higher compared with pre-test) in each aspect and in general).Also, there was a significant difference between attitude score in pretest with that in post test and with consistency test (P<0.0001).
Conclusion: This training plan had significant and positive impacts on BSE attitude. Because positive attitude is necessary to do BSE, it is suggested that in training sessions the positive aspects of BSE and increase positive attitude be emphasized.