Background: Breast cancer is the most universal malignancy worldwide.
Getting regular screening tests to detect early breast cancer is the surest way
to reduce breast cancer deaths. The purpose of this study was to explore the
predictors of breast cancer screening
behavior among Chinese women using the protection motivation theory (PMT).
Methods: This cross-sectional study included 895 women from eastern
China. Data were collected using an online questionnaire that included
sociodemographic information, PMT theoretical construction, and breast cancer
screening behavior. Structural equation modeling was used to test predictive
relations among the PMT model variables related to breast cancer screening
behavior. Results: The results showed that response
efficiency ( = 0.262, p 0.001), screening
motivation ( = 0.162, p 0.001), and socioeconomic
status (SES) ( = 0.556, p 0.001) had a direct
positive effect on screening behavior. Perceived severity, response cost, and
self-efficacy can indirectly influence screening behavior through screening
motivations. Notably, in the PMT substructure, response cost can directly and
positively affect perceived severity and response efficacy has a direct positive
effect on self-efficacy. Conclusions: PMT structure and SES are
important predictors of screening behavior. The PMT substructure is not only
directly related to screening behavior but also has indirect effects. The
findings of this study suggest that PMT can effectively predict breast screening
behavior, and interventions based on the substructure of PMT to develop screening
behavior in women may be more effective.