Determination of Health Beliefs, Self-Efficacy and Cancer Fatalism in Young Female University Students Practicing Breast Self-Examination

Abstract

The current study aimed to examine the determination of health beliefs, self-efficacy, and cancer fatalism in young female university students.This study involved 800 female students which were taken from different departments of University of Gujrat by using convenient sampling technique. Health belief model scale, self-efficacy scale, and cancer fatalism scale were used for data collection. Obtained data were analyzed by using Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient, Moderation analysis, and Independent Sample t-test.Results indicated that health beliefs and self-efficacy negatively correlated with cancer fatalism. Self-efficacy moderates the relationship between health beliefs and cancer fatalism. Moreover, significant differences exist in health beliefs of young female university students practicing breast self-examination. The results showed the large effect size. This study recommends that universities/colleges should arrange training programs for breast self-examination and programs for increasing self-efficacy which foster practice of breast self-examination in young female students.