Predictors of progress in the stage of adoption of breast cancer screening for Korean women.

Background: It has been proven that an individuals health behavior is determined through a series of processes. This study aimed to assess the stages of adoption of breast cancer screening, and to identify the factors relating to progress through these stages.

Materials And Methods: There were 202 female participants aged 20- 59 years who were living in Chungbuk, South Korea. They were informed of the study purpose and agreed to participate. Data were collected from October 2010 to January 2011 by assessing the breast cancer screening stage, health beliefs, socio-demographic factors, and other facilitating factors. The participant current stage of adoption of breast cancer screening was classified using the Precaution Adoption Process Model (PAPM), and the various PAPM stages were compared with each other to identify factors likely to determine progress between stages. The data were analyzed using the χ2-test, ANOVA, Duncan test, and multiple logistic regression.

Results: Approximately half of all participants were not on-schedule for breast self-examination and mammography (unaware, 9.4% and 11.4%, unengaged, 8.4% and 5.0%, undecided, 20.3% and 17.8%, decided not to act, 1.5% and 1.0%, decided to act, 13.4% and 15.3%, respectively). The factors likely to determine the progress from one stage to another were age, marital status, exposure to media information about breast cancer, self-efficacy, and perceived severity.

Conclusions: These results suggest that it is necessary to develop a tailored message for breast cancer screening behavior.