Theory-based training to promote breast cancer screening among women with breast cancer worries: randomized controlled trial

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Breast cancer worries are important determinants in relation to behavior favoring breast cancer screening. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of theory-based training to promote breast cancer screening among women with high and low levels of breast cancer worries. DESIGN AND SETTING: Randomized controlled trial, conducted in two family health centers. METHODS: In total, 285 women were recruited. Women with low levels of breast cancer worries were included in the first intervention group (112 women) and the first control group (112 women), while women with high levels of breast cancer worries were included in the second intervention group (37 women) and the second control group (43 women). Theory-based training to promote breast cancer screening was given to intervention groups. The women’s willingness to undergo breast cancer screening and breast cancer worry scores were evaluated at 1, 3 and 6 months. RESULTS: The women in the low cancer-worry intervention group performed breast self-examination more in months 1 and 6 following the training, and the women in the high cancer-worry control group performed breast self-examination more in month 3 (P 0.05). CONCLUSION: The level of worry did not affect the success of theory-based training, and the training was partially effective with regard to willingness to undergo breast cancer screening.

研究背景：乳腺癌担忧（breast cancer worries）是影响女性参与乳腺癌筛查（breast cancer screening）相关行为的重要决定因素。
研究目的：明确基于理论的培训（theory-based training）对不同乳腺癌担忧程度（高、低）女性提升乳腺癌筛查参与意愿的作用效果。
设计与研究场景：在两家家庭健康中心开展的随机对照试验（Randomized controlled trial）。
研究方法：共招募285名女性。将乳腺癌担忧程度较低的女性分为第一干预组（112人）与第一对照组（112人）；乳腺癌担忧程度较高的女性分为第二干预组（37人）与第二对照组（43人）。干预组接受旨在促进乳腺癌筛查参与的基于理论的培训。分别于干预后1、3、6个月，对受试者的乳腺癌筛查参与意愿及乳腺癌担忧评分进行评估。
研究结果：乳腺癌担忧程度较低的干预组女性在培训后第1、6个月的乳房自我检查（breast self-examination）频率更高；而乳腺癌担忧程度较高的对照组女性在培训后第3个月的乳房自我检查频率更高（P 0.05）。
研究结论：乳腺癌担忧程度并未影响基于理论的培训效果，该培训在提升女性乳腺癌筛查参与意愿方面具有部分有效性。