Breast cancer: The intention to have a mammography and a clinical breast examination - application of the theory of planned behavior

Abstract

The purpose of these cross sectional studies was to identify the psychosocial factors explaining women's intention to have a mammography within the next two years and their intention to have a clinical breast examination (CBE) by a professional within the next year. Two random samples of women aged 40–69 years (n_a = 354, n_b = 344) completed a self-administered questionnaire that investigated theoretical constructs of the theory of planned behavior. The results of structural equation modeling showed that subjective norms and perceived behavioral control explained 81 % of the variance in intention of having a mammography. Sixty-five percent (65%) of the variance in intention of having a CBE was explained by attitude and perceived behavioral control. In conclusion, women need to be better informed, have better skills to overcome psychological and physical barriers in performing preventive breast behaviors, and promotion of preventive breast cancer methods should consider people significant for women.