The objective of this study was to evaluate the effictiveness of teaching breast self- examination to teachers, a semi-experimental study was conducted in conducted in central regions of Tehran. For this reason 4 central districts (6, 10, 11 and 12) were selected. These regions were divided into case (6 and 12) and control (10 and 11), by random sampling. Intervention was reaching breast self-examination to a sample of the case group. This sample consisted of a volunteer person from each school.
Data were collected via a structured questionnaire. This questionnaire was completed in 3 steps with an interval of 6 months (one step before and two steps after intervention). In addition, volunteers collected data about risk factors of breast cancer from case group.
Results indicated that 64% of participants claimed that they knew about breast self examination and the most common source of information was via friends (25%). Only 5% of respondents practiced breast self-examination regularly. The most common reason for not performing breast self examination and not attending clinical examination were lack of knowledge (34%) and not to believe its necessity (36%) respectively.
After intervention, 90% of respondents in the case group said they knew about breast self examination and 60% said that they performed BSE, which was regularly (monthly) in 16% of replies. Overall, intervention improved knowledge and practice but had little effect on attitude. Performing BSE was significantly related to: age, marital status, going for GYN visit, and history of breast problem.
According to our results about limitations and advantages of this method of teaching BSE, it can be widely applied for health education.