SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION.
Item
-
Title
-
SOCIOPSYCHOLOGICAL DETERMINANTS OF BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION.
-
Identifier
-
AAI8601665
-
identifier
-
8601665
-
Creator
-
KEEBY-RICHARDSON, GWENDOLYN.
-
Contributor
-
Samuel Bloom
-
Date
-
1985
-
Language
-
English
-
Publisher
-
City University of New York.
-
Subject
-
Sociology, General | Health Sciences, General
-
Abstract
-
The central objective of this study is to examine the influence of psychological and social determinants upon a specific type of widely publicized preventive health medicine, self-examination for breast cancer. A decision to examine or not to examine the breasts reflects attitudes and beliefs which occur within and are shaped by social, cultural, economic, and historical circumstances. Thus, the approach employed in this study may be viewed as a synthesis of different approaches, each of which has itself proved useful in explaining compliance and preventive health behavior. It is hypothesized that the practice of breast self-examination is influenced by a woman's estimate about the efficacy of breast self-examination and the curability of breast cancer. In addition, it is assumed that interpersonal influence may motivate a woman to examine her breasts. But motivation is not enough, a woman must also know how to go about examining her breasts, know what signs and symptoms to look for. Such knowledge, accordingly, is taken into account. It is reasonable to assume that the idea of breast self-examination itself can indirectly or directly be a source of anxiety, thereby arousing conflicting motives of avoidance. Therefore, anxiety associated with breast cancer is considered as a potential barrier to breast self-examination. The conclusions reached are: physicians' influence is the major determinant of breast self-examination. Further, physicians are an important link between breast self-examination and other factors (such as anxiety and information) that affect it. Anxiety leads to avoidance. As the levels of knowledge increase so does the frequency of practicing breast self-examination. Neither the value of early detection in the cure of breast cancer nor a belief in the efficacy of breast self-examination has an effect on the practice of BSE.
-
Type
-
dissertation
-
Source
-
PQT Legacy CUNY.xlsx
-
degree
-
Ph.D.
-
Program
-
Sociology
