The Effect of Peer Education on University Students` Breast Self-Examination and Health Beliefs: Quasi-Experimental Study

Authors : Kübra Pınar Gürkan

Pages : 137-146

View : 22 | Download : 28

Publication Date : 2025-03-21

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aim: To assess the impact of peer education on university students\\\' self-breast examination (BSE) practices and their health beliefs. Materials and Method: A single-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental study was conducted. The study population comprised 560 first and second-year nursing students enrolled at Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Nursing. Data collection instruments included a \\\"Descriptive Information Form,\\\" Champion\\\'s Health Belief Model Scale (HBM), and a breast HBMulation model. Peer educators received five weeks of theoretical and practical training facilitated by the Peer educators have had their peers fill out data collection forms, explained self-breast examination using a breast HBMulation model, and sent reminder videos and brochures online twice a week. Post-tests were administered to students six weeks after the training. Dependent groups t-test and McNemar tests were used in the data analysis. Results: Upon comparing students\\\' BSE performance before and after training, a statistically significant difference was observed (p 0.05). In contrast, there was a statistically significant difference in university students\\\' perceptions of HBM related to motivation, perceived benefits, obstacles, and self-efficacy before and after the training (p < 0.005). Conclusion: Peer education had a positive effect on students\\\' ability to conduct breast self-examinations. Moreover, students\\\' health beliefs regarding motivation, perceived benefits, obstacles, and self-efficacy related to breast self-examination improved following the training and peer education to enhance both BSE practices and health beliefs among university nursing students.
Keywords : Kendi kendine meme muayenesi, Akran eğitimi, Sağlık inanç modeli.