# The effect of education with WhatsApp application on women's health beliefs, self-efficacy levels, and regular mammography behavior: a randomized controlled experimental trial

## TL;DR

Using WhatsApp to deliver health education improved women's beliefs about mammography and increased their likelihood of getting regular screenings.

## Contribution

Demonstrates the effectiveness of WhatsApp-based Health Belief Model training in promoting mammography behavior.

## Key findings

- Women in the experimental group showed significantly higher health belief scores after the training.
- 70% of the experimental group underwent mammography after the intervention.
- Self-efficacy levels increased significantly in the experimental group compared to the control group.

## Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the Health Belief Model-based training provided to women via WhatsApp on their health beliefs about mammography, self-efficacy levels, and regular mammography behavior.

This randomized controlled experimental trial was conducted with 81 women (41 experimental and 40 control), aged 40–69 years, who were literate, able to use WhatsApp, and had no communication barriers, and had no history of breast cancer. Participants were recruited from a Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Center in eastern Turkey. The experimental group was sent training content via WhatsApp once a week for 7 weeks, individual counseling was provided, and the training video was shared in the last week. Data were collected using the "Questionnaire on Descriptive Characteristics," "Health Belief Model Scale for Breast Cancer Screening," and "Mammography Self-Efficacy Scale."

The demographic characteristics of the two groups were similar (p>0.05). After the training, it was determined that women in the experimental group had significantly higher averages in all sub-dimensions of the Health Belief Model Scale for Breast Cancer Screening and Mammography Self-Efficacy Scale compared to the control group (p<0.05). It was also observed that 70% of the women in the experimental group underwent mammography after the training.

Health Belief Model-based education delivered via WhatsApp positively affected women's health beliefs and mammography behaviors, demonstrating the effectiveness of education delivered through digital platforms.