COMPARING THE EFFECT OF THREE HEALTH EDUCATION METHODS ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF HEALTH VOLUNTEERS REGARDING BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION

In recent decades, breast cancer due to its high prevalence rate is the most important health problem among women world widely. By educating women about breast cancer screening behaviors and breast self-examination (BSE), we can identify and treat cancer in its early stages. This study was done to investigate the effects of various educational methods on women's knowledge about BSE, and to compare these effects. In this quasi-experimental study, one hundred and twenty health volunteers from Shohada Health Center, Urmia, were recruited. First, a valid and reliable questionnaire was completed by health volunteers, then participants were divided into four groups. One group (30 women) was taken as the control group, and the other three groups as the educational groups. The following educational methods were applied to the three educational groups respectively: A. indirect method (pamphlet), B. direct method (i.e. lecture, question and response), C. indirect and direct method (such as lecture, question and response, and pamphlet). The obtained data was analyzed by means of the statistical software of SPSS, using descriptive and inferential statistical tests. The results showed that the age mean of samples was 33/01 ± 7/6 and its range changed from 18 to 53 years. This research indicated that education by means of three methods raises the level of knowledge of health volunteers regarding BSE (P<0. 001). Analysis of paired t- test showed a significant difference among the educational groups before and after education (P<0. 001). Also chi -square test showed a significant difference between age and education level of samples with their knowledge level (P<0. 05). According to the study findings on the effect of instruction on the knowledge of health volunteers regarding BSE, applying educational methods such as indirect education, direct education as well as compound methods would be helpful in health care centers.