Help-seeking intentions for breast-cancer symptoms: A comparison of the self-regulation model and the theory of planned behaviour

TY - JOUR

T1 - Help-seeking intentions for breast-cancer symptoms: A comparison of the self-regulation model and the theory of planned behaviour

AU - Hunter, M S

AU - Grunfeld, E A

AU - Ramirez, A J

PY - 2003/9

Y1 - 2003/9

N2 - Purpose. Delays in seeking help for symptoms have been found to be associated with poorer outcome in breast-cancer patients. This study explores symptom perceptions and health beliefs as predictors of intentions to seek medical help in a general female population. The utility of the self-regulation model of illness cognition and the theory of planned behaviour were examined in predicting help-seeking intentions for potential symptoms of breast cancer in a general population sample. Methods. A general population sample of 546 women completed a postal questionnaire comprising items examining components of the self-regulation model and the theory of planned behaviour. Help-seeking intention was determined by asking participants to rate the likelihood of visiting their GP for a range of breast symptoms. Results. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the cognitive component of the self-regulation model accounted for approximately 22% of the variance in help-seeking intention. Identity (0 = 0.45, p

AB - Purpose. Delays in seeking help for symptoms have been found to be associated with poorer outcome in breast-cancer patients. This study explores symptom perceptions and health beliefs as predictors of intentions to seek medical help in a general female population. The utility of the self-regulation model of illness cognition and the theory of planned behaviour were examined in predicting help-seeking intentions for potential symptoms of breast cancer in a general population sample. Methods. A general population sample of 546 women completed a postal questionnaire comprising items examining components of the self-regulation model and the theory of planned behaviour. Help-seeking intention was determined by asking participants to rate the likelihood of visiting their GP for a range of breast symptoms. Results. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis revealed that the cognitive component of the self-regulation model accounted for approximately 22% of the variance in help-seeking intention. Identity (0 = 0.45, p

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/0141828138

U2 - 10.1348/135910703322370888

DO - 10.1348/135910703322370888

M3 - Article

VL - 8

SP - 319

EP - 333

JO - British Journal of Health Psychology

JF - British Journal of Health Psychology

IS - 3

ER -