Effect of monthly reminders by telephone message on women's beliefs and practice behaviours regarding breast self‐examination: A randomized controlled study.

Aims: This study was conducted to examine the effect of monthly telephone message reminders after training on women's beliefs and practice behaviours regarding breast self‐examination. Methods: This randomized controlled study was conducted with 83 women aged 20–69 years living in Turkey between September 2021 and July 2022. Women were randomly assigned (1:1) to the intervention (n = 41) or control group (n = 42), both groups received online breast self‐examination training, and the intervention group received monthly reminders on their mobile phones for 3 months. Participants completed the Champion's Health Belief Model Scale and breast self‐examination practice evaluation form at baseline and 3 months after intervention. Results: After the intervention, the mean scores of the benefits and self‐efficacy subscales of Champion's Health Belief Model Scales were significantly higher in the intervention group compared to the control group, and the mean score of barriers was lower. The rate of performing breast self‐exam regularly and at the appropriate time was higher in the intervention group. The rate of forgetting to perform breast self‐examination was higher in control group. Conclusion: A monthly reminder message may be recommended to increase women's belief in breast self‐examination and increase regular practice. Summary statement: What is already known about this topic? Breast cancer is common, it is a type of cancer that progresses slowly and can be treated with early diagnosis and regular application of breast self‐examination is one of the effective non‐invasive screening methods for early diagnosis of breast cancer among women.Studies have found that forgetfulness and neglect, lack of awareness about BSE techniques and lack of knowledge are important obstacles to breast self‐examination. What this paper adds? Breast self‐examination training and then a monthly phone message reminder approach was used in women.It has been observed that the monthly telephone reminder message is an intervention that increases the belief in breast self‐examination in women, along with an increase in the rate of regular and timely examination practice and a decrease in the rate of forgetting to do so. The implications of this paper: The importance of regular phone message reminders about breast self‐examination should be included in the in‐service training given to all health professionals, especially midwives and nurses working in the delivery of primary health care services.A central message system could be developed to remind women of breast self‐examination at the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]