SUMMARY

The research study was conceptualized, conducted and completed in order to assess and describe the breast self-examination practices of female nursing students in Wesleyan University Philippines .BSE practices of the respondents were characterized in terms of their knowledge about BSE, attitudes towards procedure, and skills regarding the procedure , including actual performance and compliance. Two hundred eighty female nursing students composed of 41 first year students, 30 second year students, 60 third year students and 149 fourth year students were choosen as respondents through random sampling. The study was develop using the descriptive method of research, with a developed questionnaires is the main data gathering instruments. The research instruments used in the data gathering procedure was divided into six parts. Part A involved profiling of the respondents according to their socio demographic characteristics. Part B determined the information on breast self examination, it includes person who influenced the practice of breast self-examination, person who taught, motivator to continue, frequency of practice, and the reason for staffing of BSE. FINDINGS 1. The socio- demographic profile of the respondents Profiling of the respondents according to their socio-demographic characteristics reveal got that the highest percentage,86.10% of female nursing students in Wesleyan University Philippines belong to the age group of 16-20 years, represented by 241 respondents. Singles had a frequency of 272 respondents ,accounting to 97.10% of the total sample size. Regarding the year level the fourth year students dominate the sample size, with 149 respondents (53.20%). The highest percentage of the monthly family income comprising 26.10% is ranging from 10,000-20,000php with a frequency of 73. 2. Circumstances that Influence the Respondents BSE Practices. Relative to 8 identified circumstances that influence the female nursing students performance of breast self examination, majority of the respondents were influence by 1-3 ciecumstances, equivalent to 1-3 risk factor for breast cancer. These respondents are found to be of low risk of having breast cancer. 3. Respondents knowledge about breast self-examination

The female nursing students level of knowledge about breast selfexamination was assessed by eliciting the respondents total number of correct responses to questions about important concepts relative to the procedure. Results revealed that the level of knowledge of majority of respondents can be rated average.

4. Person who influenced breast self-examination

It reveals that the first year respondents answered rank is the husband/boyfriend having 0%. For the second year respondents ,it was clearly shown that the person who influence them are their friends with the percentage of 6.07%.The least in the rank,with a weighted percentage of 0.36% which is the husband/boyfriend. The third year female respondents answered doctor as their highest rank with 10.16%.Then their least rank is husband/boyfriend with 0.36%. The fourth year female respondents revealed that the highest rank , who influence them to perform BSE are friends weighted 11.79% and the last rank is husband/boyfriend with 4.29%.It concludes that the overall highest rank of the respondents for the person who influence them to perform BSE is their mother.And it reveals that the least rank with the percentage of 5.00% is husband/boyfriend. that their mother is the

highest rank of person who influence them to perform BSE with 11.43%.The least

5. Person who taught It reveals that the first year respondents answered, they acquired information throught their mother as the highest rank having 35(12.50%).Second to the highest rank is the health worker having 34(12.14),and the least rank is the relative having 1(0.36%) and the others specified different reasons that were not indicated having1( 0.36%). Second year respondents health worker ,got the highest rank regards to its weighted mean of 15(5.36%).Second to the highest rank is mother with the weighted mean of 13(4.64%).And the least of all is friends with its weighted mean of 0%. In third year respondents answered they acquired knowledge through the PT6 as the highest rank having 40(14.29%).Second to the highest rank is the health worker having 19(6.79%).And the least rank is the others specified different reasons that were not indicated having 0%.

In fourth year respondents ,health worker got the highest rank regards to its weighted mean of 98(35.00%).Second to the highest rank is the mother with the weighted mean of 67(23.93%).And the least of all is friends with its weighted mean of 26(9.29%).It simply means that health worker had the highest rank of the respondents answered as having required information on BSE. 6. Motivator to continue breast self-examination It reveals that the first year respondents, parents got the highest rank with regards to its weighted mean of 37(13.21%).Second to the highest rank is friends with the weighted mean of 27(9.64%).And the least of all is health worker with its weighted mean of 4(1.43%). In second year respondents. It reveals that parents got the highest rank with regards to its weighted mean of 17(6.07%).Second to the highest rank is friends with the weighted mean of 15(3.36%).On the other hand, relative and history of breast cancer in the family got the lowest rank, both with the weighted mean of 2(0.07%) Third year respondents ,parents got the highest rank with regards to its weighted mean of 24(8.57%).Second to the highest rank is friends with the weighted mean of 22(7.86%).And the least of all is history of breast cancer in the family with its weighted mean of 11(3.93%). In the fourth year respondents it reveals that friends got the highest rank with regards to its weighted mean of 94(33.57%).Second to the highest rank is health worker with the weighted mean of 93(33.21%).And the least of all is the history of breast cancer in the family with its weighted mean of 20(7.14%).It simply means that friends got the highest rank of the respondents answer as having require information on BSE. 7. Frequency of Practice of BSE The frequency of practice of breast self-examination of 1st year nursing students revealed that mostly answered monthly having 35 (12.5%) same as the 2nd year respondents who mostly answered monthly having 19 (6.79%).The 3rd year and 4th year respondents also had monthly as the highest rank of the frequency of practice of breast-self examination having 46 (16.43%) and 129 (46.07%). All in all monthly frequency had the highest rank with 229 (81.79%).

8. Reasons for stopping BSE There are many reasons for stopping breast self-examination practices. The respondents from the 1st year answered forgetfulness as the highest reason for stopping BSE having 38 (13.57%). No one answered that it is not necessary. The 2nd year respondents also ranked forgetfulness as the highest having 18 (6.43%) then, lack of time having 8 (2.86%), absence of lump during previous examination having 5 (1.79%) and only 1 (0.36%) answered it is not necessary. The 3rd year respondents highest rank for stopping BSE is tied between 29 (10.36%). Only 2 (0.71%) answered absence of lump during previous examination and 3 (1.07%) answered it is not necessary. The 4th year respondents answered forgetfulness as the highest rank to reasons for stopping BSE having 17 (34.64%) followed by the lack of time having 104 (37.14%), absence of lump during previous examination having 10 (3.57%) and lastly, 4 (1.43%) answered it is not necessary. It concludes that 182 (65%) of all the female nursing students answered that lack of time is the highest rank of the reasons indicated for stopping breast self-examination.