# Breast Health Education as a Motivator for Breast Self-Examination Practice in High-Risk Women: Grounded Theory Analysis

## TL;DR

Breast health education motivates high-risk women to perform breast self-examinations, aiding early cancer detection and better health outcomes.

## Contribution

The study introduces a theoretical model showing how education drives breast self-examination in high-risk women.

## Key findings

- Breast health education is the core motivator for self-examination practice.
- Perceptual, attitudinal, and familial support influence self-examination effectiveness.
- The model can guide educational interventions in culturally specific communities.

## Abstract

Women in low-resource regions face a higher risk of breast cancer. Implementing a breast health initiative that promotes breast self-examination practice could aid in the early detection and prevention of breast cancer complications.

This study aimed to explore and comprehend the experiences of high-risk women, focusing on their breast self-examination practice and the factors that influence their effectiveness in managing breast health.

This research used a qualitative approach to perform semistructured interviews with 11 high-risk women who had a family history of breast cancer recruited from the oncology department of a hospital using purposive and theoretical sampling during the period from August 2024 to April 2025. The analysis of the data was conducted using the grounded theory approach by Strauss and Corbin to formulate a theoretical model for breast self-examination practices.

This study highlighted breast health education as a motivator of and the core category for breast self-examination practice. This study found perceptual, attitudinal, and familial support drivers of breast self-examination practice for early diagnosis of breast cancer and better living.

This study enhances the body of knowledge regarding the experiences of high-risk women. Health care providers play a significant role in using this framework to steer innovative educational interventions that promote breast health in culture-bound communities.