Examining the impact of breast self-examination warnings on sanitary pad packages on female university students

Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer encountered in women and may result in death. The studies conducted across the world indicate that women do not have sufficient levels of doing and knowing breast self-examination (BSE). In this study women's sanitary pads were used as an educational appliance comprising packages prepared both printed and visual, for the purpose of raising awareness on breast cancer and BSE. This study is of descriptive quality and was conducted with 600 female students studying in Afyonkarahisar Faculty of Medical Sciences. The data were evaluated via the SPSS 22 Windows package program. While analyzing the data, descriptive statistics were used and the variables affecting scale scores of the study were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal Wallis tests. Significance level was accepted to be p<0.05. The study data were obtained via the Introduction Form, Champion's Health Belief Model Scale in Breast Cancer Screenings and the Evaluation Form. Mean age of the students who took part in the study was 20,6±1,8 years. Their first menstruation age was 13,3±1,1 years. In the data evaluation, it was determined that although 63,3% of the students were aware of BSE, 85,7% did not do it regularly. The number of the students doing BSE regularly was inadequate (14,3%) and 29,5% of them did not know when to do BSE. It was determined that 13,7% of the students had family history of breast cancer. It was found that the students who took part in the study had higher perceptions of motivation and benefits and a lower perception of obstacles (p<0.05). In addition there was a difference in each group in terms of the students' perception of self-efficacy, while their perceptions of seriousness and motivation remained the same (p>0.05). Among the students who were introduced to the sanitary pad application, 91% stated that they would do BSE after reading the packages, 96% stated that the sanitary pad application would raise awareness of breast cancer and BSE and 98% stated that the application needed to generalize. According to these data, it was determined that the students did not have adequate information on breast cancer and BSE. They did not know how to do BSE and the warnings on the sanitary pad packages would raise awareness of breast cancer and BSE. In order to protect women's health, create health behavior, provide early diagnosis in breast cancer and raise awareness on breast cancer and BSE, it is recommended that the sanitary pad application be generalized. Keywords: Sanitary Pad, Breast Self-Examination, Women's Health, Breast Cancer