Beliefs and Behaviors of Breast Cancer Screening in Women Referring to Health Care Centers in Northwest Iran According to the Champion Health Belief Model Scale

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. All ages are susceptible and more than90% of the patients can be cured with early diagnosis. Breast self-examination (BSE) and mammography can beuseful for this aim. In this study we examined the components of the Champion health belief model to identifyif they could predict the intentions of women to perform such screening. Materials and Methods: A total of380 women aged 30 and above who had referred to health-care centers were assessed for use of breast cancerscreening over the past year with a modified health belief model questionnaire. Logistic regression was appliedto identify leading independent predictors. Results: In this study 27% of the women performed BSE in thelast year but only 6.8% of them used mammography as a way of screening. There were significant differencesregarding all components of the model except for perceived severity between women that underwent BSE. overthe past year and those that did not. Findings were similar for mammography. Regression analysis revealedthat intentions to perform BSE were predicted by perceived self-efficacy and perceived barriers to BSE whileintentions to perform mammography were predicted by perceived barriers. Conclusions: This study indicatedthat self-efficacy can support performance of BSE while perceived barriers are important for not performingboth BSE and mammography. Thus we must educate women to increase their self-efficacy and decrease theirperceived barriers.     

Beliefs,Attitudes, and Behavior of Turkish Women about Breast Cancer and Breast Self-Examination According to a Turkish Version of the Champion Health Belief Model Scale

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancer affecting women worldwide. Although agreat deal of progress has been made in the health sciences, early diagnosis, and increasing community awareness,breast cancer remains a life-threatening illness. In order to reduce this threat, breast cancer screening needs tobe implemented in all communities where possible. Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine healthbeliefs, attitudes and behaviors about breast cancer and breast self-examination of Turkish women. Methods:Data were collected from a sample of 656 women, using an adapted Turkish version of Champion’s Health BeliefModel Scale (CHBMS), between January and May 2011, in Ordu province of Turkey. Results: The results showedthat 67.7% of women had knowledge about and 55.8% performed BSE, however 60.6% of those who indicatedthey practiced BSE reported they did so at irregular intervals. CHBMS subscales scores of women accordingto women’s age, education level, occupation, family income and education level of the women’s mothers, familyhistory of breast cancer, friend and an acquaintance with breast cancer, knowledge about breast cancer, BSEand mammography were significantly different. Conclusion: Knowledge of women about the risks and benefitsof early detection of breast cancer positively affect their health beliefs, attitudes, and behaviors. Health careprofessionals can develop effective breast health programs and can help women to gain good health behaviorand to maintain health.     

Implementation and Evaluation of an IPAC SWAT Team Mobilized to Long-Term Care and Retirement Homes During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Pragmatic Health System Innovation

Long-term care facilities (LTCFs), retirement homes (RHs), and other congregate care settings in Canada and worldwide have experienced significant COVID-19 outbreaks. As a health system response, our acute care hospital in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, developed and mobilized an onsite Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) SWAT team (IPAC-SWAT) to regional settings on outbreak and implemented a strategy of support through education, training, and engagement.Between April 28, 2020, and June 30, 2020, IPAC-SWAT assessed 7 LTCFs and 10 RHs for IPAC preparedness and actively managed 10 of 13 COVID-19 outbreaks (LTCF n=5; RH n=5). IPAC-SWAT strategies were multi-interventional and intended to mitigate further viral transmission or prevent outbreaks. Dedicated training of local “IPAC champions” was facilitated at 7 sites (LTCF = 5; RH = 2) using a “train-the-trainer” approach to promote local knowledge, autonomy, and site-led audits and feedback.     

The ELDER Project: Educational Model and Three-Year Outcomes of a Community-Based Geriatric Education Initiative

The purpose of the ELDER (Expanded Learning and Dedication to Elders in the Region) Project was to address the needs of underserved older adults by providing worksite education to individuals who provide nursing care to older adults in community health centers, home health agencies, and long-term care facilities. Four agencies located in a Health Professional Shortage and Medically Underserved Area participated. Project staff conducted separate focus groups with administrators and staff at each agency to determine educational needs and preferences. Curricula from the Hartford Institute, End-of-Life Nursing Education Consortium, and Geriatric Education Centers were adapted to design unique curricula for each agency and level of personnel (licensed nurse or unlicensed caregiver). Activities included focus group meetings to tailor content to the needs of each agency, on-site educational sessions, and identification of an agency champion to sustain the program after the funding ended. A case-based simulation-learning approach was used in the final year to validate application of knowledge and to facilitate teamwork and interprofessional communication. Over 100 nurses and nursing assistants and eight administrators and allied health professionals participated over the three-year period of the project. Retention over this period, independent evaluations, and simulations demonstrated participants' ability to integrate best practices into typical clinical scenarios and revealed improved communication among care providers. Tailored on-site education incorporating simulation was an effective model for translating gerontological knowledge into practice and improving the care of older adults in these multiple settings.