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Table 5 Comparison of Health Beliefs between attendees and non-attendees

From: Health beliefs, illness perceptions and determinants of breast screening uptake in Malta: a cross-sectional survey

When you received your invite to the Breast Screening programme, did you attend?

Yes

No

Total

Chi-Square testa

Health Beliefs

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

Mean

SD

χ2

p-value

There is no possibility of getting breast cancer (r)

1.9

0.7

2.0

0.7

2.0

0.7

4.3

0.367

Your chances of getting breast cancer are high

3.7

0.7

3.6

0.8

3.6

0.8

7.1

0.130

There may be the possibility of developing breast cancer in your lifetime

4.0

0.3

4.0

0.4

4.0

0.3

1.7

0.645

When you get a mammogram, you feel good about yourself

4.0

0.4

3.9

0.5

4.0

0.5

16.7

0.001*

When you get a mammogram, you do not worry as much about breast cancer

3.8

0.8

3.6

0.8

3.7

0.8

2.8

0.423

Having a mammogram will help you find lumps early in your breasts

4.2

0.4

4.1

0.5

4.2

0.5

7.8

0.051

If you find a lump through a mammogram, the treatment for breast cancer may not be as bad

4.0

0.4

4.0

0.3

4.0

0.4

3.3

0.349

Having a mammogram will decrease your chances of dying from breast cancer

4.0

0.4

4.0

0.3

4.0

0.3

6.2

0.103

Having a mammogram will help you find a lump before it can be felt by yourself or a health professional

4.0

0.5

4.0

0.4

4.0

0.5

0.6

0.899

Having a routine mammogram would make you anxious about breast cancer

2.7

1.0

2.9

1.0

2.8

1.0

7.1

0.070

Having a routine mammogram would make you worry

2.7

1.0

2.9

1.0

2.8

1.0

3.9

0.416

You fear having a mammogram because you might find out that something is wrong

2.9

1.0

3.2

1.0

3.0

1.1

12.0

0.017*

You fear having a mammogram because you do not know the procedure or what to expect

2.2

0.6

2.5

0.9

2.3

0.8

31.9

0.000*

You fear having a mammogram because you know someone (family or friend) with breast cancer

2.6

1.1

2.9

1.1

2.7

1.1

7.1

0.132

It is embarrassing for you to have a mammogram

2.4

0.8

2.7

1.0

2.5

0.9

13.6

0.009*

Undergoing mammography will be painful or uncomfortable

3.4

1.0

3.3

0.9

3.3

1.0

39.0

0.000*

Having a mammogram is time consuming

1.2

0.4

1.3

0.6

1.3

0.5

7.2

0.067

You are discontent with Breast Screening personnel as they have been rude to you

1.2

0.5

n/a

n/a

1.2

0.5

n/a

n/a

You have fear or distrust in the medical team

1.7

0.7

2.2

0.9

1.9

0.8

38.3

0.000*

Having a mammogram would expose you to unnecessary radiation

2.2

0.6

2.5

0.8

2.3

0.7

16.6

0.001*

You have too many other problems in your life than to get a mammogram done

1.6

0.6

2.0

0.8

1.7

0.7

38.8

0.000*

You are not old enough to have a mammogram periodically

1.7

0.5

1.9

0.4

1.8

0.5

22.6

0.000*

If your GP advises you to attend for a mammogram, you will attend

4.3

0.6

4.0

0.7

4.2

0.7

13.6

0.004*

If your relatives or friends advise you to attend for a mammogram, you will attend

3.4

1.0

3.4

1.0

3.4

1.0

2.0

0.576

If someone close to you has been diagnosed with breast cancer, you will attend for a mammogram

4.2

1.0

3.9

1.0

4.1

1.0

13.8

0.008*

Hearing about breast cancer and breast screening in the media or news makes you think about getting a mammogram

3.8

0.7

3.5

0.9

3.6

0.8

15.7

0.000*

Reminder letters would help you to get a mammogram

4.0

0.4

3.8

0.7

3.9

0.5

15.4

0.001*

Reminder phone calls or text messages would help you to get a mammogram

4.0

0.4

3.8

0.7

3.9

0.5

15.4

0.001*

Routine educational talks regarding breast cancer awareness would help you to get a mammogram

3.8

0.7

3.5

0.9

3.6

0.8

16.9

0.001*

You feel confident that if you had a mammogram done, any abnormalities in your breasts will be detected

3.7

0.6

3.6

0.7

3.7

0.6

2.2

0.697

You can arrange other things in your life to get a mammogram

4.2

0.6

4.0

0.7

4.1

0.7

13.1

0.011*

In case you need a mammogram, you will find a place to get it done

4.2

0.5

4.1

0.5

4.2

0.5

10.9

0.028*

You can make an appointment for a mammogram

4.2

0.5

4.1

0.6

4.2

0.5

12.1

0.016*

You can arrange transportation to get a mammogram

4.2

0.5

4.1

0.6

4.2

0.6

13.1

0.011*

You can talk to people at the breast screening centre about your concerns

4.1

0.7

n/a

n/a

4.1

0.7

n/a

n/a

You can find a way to pay for a mammogram if you need to

4.2

0.5

4.1

0.5

4.2

0.5

10.3

0.036*

  1. *Significant at α = 0.05
  2. (r) = reverse scored
  3. aChi-square test was applied for all health beliefs; hence the categorical answers were used to apply this test for association. For each question, respondents were asked to select a number between 1 and 5, where 1 = strongly disagree and 5 = strongly agree.