Introduction

1. NEW IMPLICATIONS FOR FEMALE COLLEGE STUDENTS’ BREAST HEALTH EDUCATION: DETERMINANTS OF KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, AND SCREENING Sloane Burke, Ph.D., CHES, Department of Health Education & Promotion, East Carolina University, Walden University Shelley N. Armstrong, Ph.D., MAT, Department of Health & Exercise Science, Centenary College of Louisiana & School of Health Sciences, Walden University Jody Early, Ph.D., M.S.,CHES, Program Director, Undergraduate Programs, School of Health Sciences, Walden University Doris L. Thompson, Ph.D., MPH, State of Alaska Public Health Conclusions The findings from this study can be used by college health professionals to develop more effective, culturally relative campus-based programs, activities, and events to improve college women’s breast health knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors. Myths, misconceptions, and scientific evidence should be discussed, especially in light of current U.S. events. Although awareness of breast cancer and the importance of early detection have become public health priorities, media storylines and controversies can be confusing and adversative to the general public. Results from this study underscored the continued need to educate and empower college women with the knowledge and skills they need in order to reduce their breast cancer risk and catch it in its earliest stages. There are more women now enrolled in higher education than ever before; therefore, college is a perfect setting to educate them about breast health. By increasing women’s exposure to breast health education, women may be more likely and less fearful to practice breast health screening as older adults. Campus wellness representatives, staff, faculty, and student education groups should be prepared to provide tailored breast health education messages in a variety of formats and ideally more than just during Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In addition, educational efforts focused on modifiable risk factors (i.e. alcohol use, obesity, etc.) may promote positive health behavior change among young women, which lowers their risk for breast cancer as well as other chronic diseases.The cost of a co-pay was also found in this study to be a screening barrier, so providing resources or linking women without financial means to breast health services is not only imperative but ethically responsible. • Sample • Ethnicity: 62.3% Euro-American, 11.5% African American, 12.7% Hispanic/Latina, 6.5% Asian/Pacific Islander, 7.0% Other. • Age: 18.0% <20 years, 48.1% 20-29, 17.4% 30-39, 10.7% 40-49, 5.7% >50 years. Methods A purposive convenience sample of 1,071 college women from three Southern universities participated in the study. Respondents completed an electronic, modified version of the Toronto Breast Self-Examination Instrument (TBSEI), with additional subscales relating to CBE and mammography. Introduction Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women. It is expected that by the end of 2009, approximately 40,170 women will die from breast cancer, only second to the number of lung cancer deaths among women.1 According to the National Cancer Institute (2008), breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in young women ages 15-54.2 A projected 11,100 women under age 40 will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2009, and more than 1,100 will die from it.1 Very few studies have examined what college women know about this topic and none have assessed predictors of breast health screening among this group.3,4,5 Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess college women’s knowledge, attitudes, and breast cancer screening practices and to determine whether knowledge, attitudes, ethnicity, age, family history, and cost of copay, were significant predictors of breast self exam (BSE), clinical breast exam (CBE), and mammography. • Results • Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses revealed that knowledge, attitudes, cost of copay, and age • were significant predictors of BSE, CBE, and mammography: • Cost of insurance co-pay was a significant hindrance of practicing mammography (0.032, p < .01) and CBE (0.338, p < .01) . • As women age, their attitudes toward BSE, CBE, and mammography were significantly more positive, F (18, 2118) = 2.87, p < .01, η = .024. • Knowledge and practices are inconsistent in younger women and they have misconceptions about mammography (Table 3). References 1. American Cancer Society. Cancer facts and figures 2008. Available at: http://www.cancer.org. 2. National Cancer Institute. Cancer statistics 2008. Available at: http://www.cancer.gov. 3. Powe B, Underwood S, Canales M, & Finnie R. Perceptions about breast cancer among college students: implications for nursing education. J Nurs Educ. 2005; 44(6):257-265 4. McCready T, Littlewood D, & Jenkinson J. Breast self-examination and breast awareness: A literature review. J Clin Nurs. 2005; 14: 570-578. 5. Chouliara Z, Papadioti-Athanasiou V, Power K, & Swanson V. Practice of and attitudes toward breast self-examination (BSE): A cross cultural comparison between younger women in Scotland and Greece. Health Care Women Int. 2004; 25(4): 311-333. ______________________________________________________________________________