Moderating Effect of Perceived Threat of Breast Cancer on Relation between Knowledge and Breast Self Examination

Estimated at more than 2.2 million cases worldwide,most breast cancer cases and deaths from breast cancer occur in low and middle-income countries.In Cameroon,many studies have underlined the effect of knowledge of breast cancer on screening measures such as self-examination and,to a lesser extent,the perception of the threat of this disease.This research aims to assess according to the Health Belief Model(HBM),the moderating effect of perceived threat of breast cancer on the relation between knowledge and breast self-examination.A questionnaire survey was conducted among 517 Cameroonian women to assess their general knowledge about breast cancer(risk factors and screening measures),their level of the perceived threat of breast cancer through Perceived susceptibility and severity,and the prevalence of breast self-examination amongst them.A regression analysis using the Macro Process for moderation indicates the main effect of Perceived threat(b=0,29;t(517)=2,36;p=0,02)of breast cancer and knowledge(b=0,02;t(517)=4,29;p<0,001)on breast self-examination.Results also confirm that the perceived threat of breast cancer moderates the effect of knowledge on breast self-examination.While the low level of perceived threat highlights the effect of knowledge on breast self-examination(b=0,02;t(517)=3,49;p<0,001),the high level of perceived threat cancels that effect(b=0,01;t(517)=1,97;p=0,01).A woman who perceives severity and susceptibility to breast cancer is more inclined to perform breast self-examination.This result suggests the importance of taking into account,in a context where knowledge of breast cancer is limited,relevant factors of the health belief model in preventive measures against breast cancer in general and the practice of breast self-examination in particular.