Breast education improves adolescent girls’ breast knowledge, attitudes to breasts and engagement with positive breast habits

Omrani, A., Wakefield-Scurr, J., Smith, J., Wadey, R. and Brown, N. (2020) Breast education improves adolescent girls’ breast knowledge, attitudes to breasts and engagement with positive breast habits. Frontiers in Public Health. ISSN 2296-2565 (In Press)

[thumbnail of Breast education improves adolescent.PDF] Text
Breast education improves adolescent.PDF - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (839kB)

Abstract

Many females experience breast-related issues that are considered to negatively impact health and wellbeing. These include breast cancer, issues related to incorrect bra fit, and issues related to breast movement including an increased incidence of breast pain, breast sag and embarrassment, which can be a barrier to physical activity participation. Knowledge and awareness of these breast issues among females is low. Furthermore, these breast concerns are more prevalent in adolescent girls compared to adult females, with 87% of girls reporting ≥ one breast concern. This study evaluated the short‐ and longer‐term impact of a 50‐minute breast education intervention on adolescent girls’ (11 to 14 years) breast knowledge, attitudes to breasts and engagement with positive breast habits. A mixed methods, controlled, longitudinal, cohort design was employed, using two control schools (n: 412; receiving no intervention) and two intervention schools (n: 375; receiving the intervention) from privileged and less privileged areas. Adolescent girls in four schools completed a validated breast survey pre- and immediately post-intervention as well as three- and six-months post-intervention. Additionally, in one intervention school, six focus groups were conducted immediately and four-months after the intervention. The intervention was equally effective in the two intervention schools. Following the intervention, participants in the intervention schools significantly improved their breast knowledge, their attitudes to breasts and their engagement with positive breast habits, compared to participants in the control schools, p < 0.01 (with large effect sizes). These improvements were sustained six months post-intervention. Participants described the session as “informative”, it made them “feel less embarrassed” about their breasts; they also reported wanting to do more exercise and to change their bra purchasing and bra wearing habits. These novel, positive findings provide insight into the benefits of teaching adolescent girls about breasts from a young age and can be used to inform effective breast education in schools. It is recommended that education on multiple breast topics should be introduced in schools, preferably being first introduced in primary schools, with a modular structure and progressive information.

Publication Type: Articles
Uncontrolled Keywords: Breast education, breast health, adolescent girls, breast cancer education, bra 32 fit, health education.
Subjects: L Education > L Education (General)
L Education > LB Theory and practice of education > LB1603 Secondary Education. High schools
Divisions: Academic Areas > Institute of Sport > Area > Exercise Physiology
Related URLs:
Depositing User: Jenny Smith
Date Deposited: 09 Oct 2020 09:14
Last Modified: 30 Sep 2021 00:10
URI: https://eprints.chi.ac.uk/id/eprint/5357

Actions (login required)

View Item
View Item
▲ Top

Our address

I’m looking for