Abstract

Purpose: Short text messaging is the easiest and cheapest way to promote knowledge level in the society which provides easy access to an extent layer of audience and a two way connection between users and educational sources in a short time and in any place. Present study has been done with the purpose of evaluating the impact of using text messages as an educational tool on breast self examination education in female students of none-medical fields in 2013. Method: in a clinical trial 54 female students from Tarbiat Modarres dormitories were selected by accidental sampling and then were educated about breast cancer, its control ways and breast self examination by 28 educational text messages at 9 AM every day for 1 moth. Data collection tool was a questionnaire designed by the researcher which was used as a pre-test and then 3 months after education as a post test and the quality of doing breast self examination was evaluated by an operational test and check list. Data analysis was done with SPSS 20 software and a parametric statistical test (paired T-test) in a significant level of p<0.05. Findings: There is a significant difference in knowledge, attitude and performance points (KAP) about breast self examination before and after educational text messaging intervention (p = 0.001). Text messaging with 47.2% was selected as the first priority by the samples. Results: text messaging educational method is effective in promotion of breast cancer preventive behaviors. The amount of KAP in female students about breast self examination was effectively elevated after text message education. We suggest use of this educational method in health education programs especially in breast cancer controlling for maintaining women’s health and hygiene.

Keywords:

Breast self examination, female students, short text message,

References

Competing interests

The authors have no competing interests.

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Copyright

The authors have no competing interests.