Özet:

This descriptive study was conducted for the purpose of determining women’s social support and self-efficiency perceptions and the effect of these perceptions on the early diagnosis behaviors of breast cancer.  METHODS: The study data were collected in a region associated with Bamyasuyu Family Health Center (number 17) in Sanlıurfa, Turkey between October 2014 and April 2015. The study sample comprised 316 women. The data were collected by a questionnaire form that was developed by the researcher, as well as Multidimensionally Perceived Social Support Scale, Health Belief Model Scale, Breast Self Examination Self-Efficacy Lower Dimension and Mammography Self-Efficacy/Self-Sufficiency Scale. The study data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and chi-square test. In order to conduct the study, permissions from the Ethical Committee, institutions and participants were obtained.  RESULTS: There was a statistically significant increase in the score average of the breast self-examination self-efficacy in women conducting a breast self-examination than women not conducting breast self-examination (t=19.998, p=0.001) and in the score average of the Mammography Self-efficacy Scale in women having a mammography than women not having a mammography (t=7.067, p=0.001). This study found that the perception of self-efficiency was effective on the early detection behaviors of women while the perception of social support was not.

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