Application of Health Belief Model on Breast Self-Examination: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer ranks among the most prevalent cancers affecting women globally. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that in 2020, approximately 2.3 million women worldwide received a breast cancer diagnosis. Early prevention efforts for breast cancer include regular breast self-examination (BSE), which can potentially detect abnormalities at an early stage. This study sought to examine the relationships of health belief model constructs on BSE practice in women of reproductive age.Subjects and Method: This was a meta-analysis study conducted within the PICO model. Population= women of reproductive age. Intervention= high perceived suscepti-bility, high perceived benefit, high perceived barrier, high perceived severity, and high self efficacy. Comparison= low perceived susceptibility, low perceived benefit, low perceived barrier, low perceived severity, and low self efficacy. Outcome= breast self examination. The articles were collected from Google Scholar, PubMed, Elsevier, and ScienceDirect using the keywords "breast self-examination" OR "breast cancer screening" AND "health belief model”. Analysis was conducted using the RevMan 5.4.Results: The meta-analysis comprised 15 cross-sectional studies from Indonesia, Australia, Iran, Turkey, Ethiopia, and Canada. Total sample was 7,558. BSE practice significantly increased with high perceived susceptibility (aOR= 1.95; 95% CI= 1.28 to 2.98; p= 0.020), high perceived benefit (aOR= 1.45; 95% CI= 1.03 to 2.05; p= 0.030), high perceived severity (aOR= 1.28; 95% CI= 1.15 to 1.42; p <0.001), and high self-efficacy (aOR= 2.49; 95% CI= 1.88 to 3.29; p<0.001). Conversely, BSE practice decreased with low perceived barrier (aOR= 0.61; 95% CI= 0.45 to 0.82; p= 0.001).Conclusion: BSE practice significantly increases with high perceived susceptibility, high perceived benefit, high perceived severity, and high self-efficacy. BSE practice decreases with low perceived barrier.Keywords: breast self examination, breast cancer, health belief model, women reproductive age