Effects of Tailored Message Education About Breast Cancer Risk Appraisal for Obese Korean Women

Purpose/Objectives: To examine the effects of tailored message education about breast cancer risk in obese Korean women.

Design: Pretest/post-test with two comparison treatments.

Setting: Rural community settings in South Korea.

Sample: Non-random sample of 64 obese women.

Methods: Based on the Health Belief Model, tailored message education involved a one-session individual approach addressing cognitive, emotional, and behavioral domains. The comparison group received a one-time standard education group session. Data on breast cancer risk factors and mammography findings were recorded.

Main Research Variables: Knowledge, awareness, emotional barriers, self-efficacy, and intent to screen and prevent breast cancer.

Findings: Compared to standard education, tailored message education showed significantly higher score changes on awareness of personal risk (F = 5.21, p < 0.05), self-efficacy for breast self-examination (BSE) (F = 5.16, p < 0.001), intent to perform BSE (F = 6.24, p < 0.05), intent to have mammography (F = 5.45, p < 0.05), and intent to prevent breast cancer with eating habits (F = 7.28, p < 0.05) and exercising (F = 12.51, p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Individually tailored education effectively enhanced awareness of personal risk for breast cancer, self-efficacy for BSE, and intent to screen and prevent breast cancer.

Implications for Nursing: Tailored message education targeting breast cancer and risk associated with obesity is useful in breast cancer screening education. Future studies should incorporate individualized messages on nutrition, exercise, and cultural barriers to reduce breast cancer risk in obese women.

Knowledge Translation: Individual educational strategies can effectively enhance breast cancer prevention and early screening. Public and preventive education should include a focus on cultural, cognitive, and emotional domains. For obese women, a heightened awareness and self-efficacy may influence screening behaviors.