The relationship between the fear of breast cancer, risk factors, and early diagnosis behaviors of women by age groups.

PURPOSE: This study investigates the relationship between fear of breast cancer, risk factors, and early diagnosis behavior of women aged 20 or above.

METHOD: It is a descriptive cross-sectional study.

FINDINGS: It was found that 17.3% of the women conducted breast self-examination, 14.0% underwent clinical breast examination, and that 9.3% of them underwent mammography. The predictors regularly affecting early diagnosis behaviors were identified through logistic regression. Different predictors for breast cancer diagnostic behaviors were found in each age group.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: This study is important in terms of taking into account the age factor in the practices aiming to increase the diagnostic behavior of healthcare personnel, especially nurses.

CONCLUSION

It was concluded that there were different predictors of breast cancer diagnostic behaviors in both age groups of the women in the study.