Self-efficacy of the First-degree Relatives of Patients with Breast Cancer in the Prevention of Cancer: Using the Health Belief Model.

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. The best method to fight this disease is early diagnosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of education based on the health belief model on self-efficacy of the first-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer. This randomized clinical trial was conducted in Tehran in 2016 on 80 first-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer. After purposive sampling, the subjects were assigned to interventions and control groups using the randomized block design. The data collection tool was a questionnaire including questions about demographic data, health belief model, and self-efficacy. The educational intervention was held during four 90-min sessions. The questionnaires were completed before and 8 weeks after the intervention in both groups. The data were analyzed using the SPSS16 software. The educational intervention led to a significant increase in susceptibility (d = 1.17, 95%CI 0.69, 1.66), seriousness (d = 1.11, 95%CI 0.62, 1.59), benefits (d = 1.58, 95%CI 1.06, 2.09), and significant decrease in perceived barriers (d = - 0.73, 95%CI 0.27, 1.19) scores in the intervention group. The self-efficacy score in the intervention group was increased from 7.58 to 9.20, which was statistically significant (d = 1.72, 95%CI 1.19, 2.25). However, in the control group, there was no significant difference in self-efficacy score before and after the intervention (p = 0.45). The present study confirmed the effectiveness of the health belief model in promoting self-efficacy of the first-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer. Therefore, it is recommended that this education program is implemented for women, especially the first-degree relatives of patients with breast cancer.