Relationship of Health Locus of Control with Breast Cancer Screening Belief of Iranian Women

Abstract

Promoting breast cancer screening (BCS) behavior of women can lead to a reduction in mortality. The health locus<br />of control affects cancer screening behavior of women; however, there is not sufficient evidence regaring this issue<br />in Iran. The overall goal of our study is to determine the relationship of the health locus of control with the breast<br />cancer screening belief of Iranian Women. This is a cross-sectional study carried out on 325 women in Tehran. The<br />Multidimensional Health Locus of Control (MHLC), Breast Cancer Screening Belief Questionnaire (BCSBQ), and<br />Demographic questionnaire were used for collecting data. Statistical analyze was performed by the SPSS version 17<br />software. The Pearson correlation and regression model were used for data analyze. In this study, 325 women, age 18<br />to 75 years, participated in this study. The mean±SD of BCSBQ and MHLC score was 40.72±10.41 and 67.78±17.67<br />respectively. The regression analysis showed that for the one-unit increase in the Internal Health Locus of Control (IHLC),<br />Powerful others Health Locus of Control (PHLC), and Chance Health Locus of Control (CHLC) score (dimensions of<br />Health Locus of Control), the total BCSBQ scores increased 0.54, 0.31, and 0.57 respectively. For each unit increase in<br />age and education, the knowledge and perceptions of the BC score increased 0.05 and 0.23 units respectively. For the<br />one-unit increase in the IHLC, PHLC, age, and education dimensions, the attitudes towards the general health checkup<br />score increased 0.17, 0.1, 0.05, and 0.188 respectively. The current study provided new insights about the BCSB<br />of Iranian women with MHLC. In the study, all the dimensions of the health locus of control were useful in predicting<br />the breast cancer screening belief of the participants.