Abstract:
This study examines the impact of health information provision on healthrelated
knowledge and corresponding behaviors. Our main assumption is that
women’s health can be improved by adopting health protective and healthenhancing
behaviors. The study employs a before–after, no-control-group design,
aimed at examining whether exposure to health knowledge concerning breast
cancer can change participants’ behavior in relation to breast self-examination.
Our sample consists of 50 young females whose knowledge and behavior related to
breast cancer was assessed in a pre-exposure phase, followed by an exposure session
during which they were shown a video film, participated in a discussion, and were
given health education literature about breast cancer to take home. Two weeks
later, the participants were reassessed, using the same measures. Their health
knowledge and behavior were found to have improved significantly. We
recommend that formal education should incorporate health education as part of
the curricula at all academic levels, especially for women. The mass media can also
play an important role in improving public health protective behavior.
