A study to assess the effectiveness of a structured teaching programme on knowledge regarding breast self examination among home makers at Pappampatti, Coimbatore

Abstract

Globally, nations are striving toward the shared goal of achieving “Health for All”. For women, breasts are vital organs, symbolizing femininity and motherhood. Among cancers affecting women, breast cancer is one of the most concerning, not only due to its high incidence but also because of its profound psychosocial consequences. It significantly influences a woman’s self-image, perception of sexuality, and overall quality of life, often to a greater extent than many other cancers. The study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a Structured Teaching Programme on improving knowledge regarding Breast Self-Examination among homemakers at Pappampatti, Coimbatore. A quasi-experimental, one-group pre-test and post-test design was adopted for the study. A total of 30 homemakers were selected using a non-randomized convenience sampling technique. The baseline knowledge of the participants regarding breast self-examination was assessed using a structured questionnaire. Following this, a Structured Teaching Programme (STP) was administered to all participants through a PowerPoint presentation on the same day. After the intervention, a post-test was conducted using the same structured questionnaire that was employed during the pre-test. The results revealed that the mean pre-test knowledge score of homemakers was 8.5, whereas the mean post-test knowledge score increased to 17.4. A statistically significant difference was observed between the mean pre-test and post-test scores (t = 14.11, p<0.05). These findings indicate that the Structured Teaching Programme (STP) was effective in improving the knowledge of homemakers regarding breast self-examination.