CHAPTER THREE RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

a.

Study design

The study will apply the descriptive cross sectional design. This design is most appropriate for the study because the researchers intend to simply describe variables in the study. Thus it will enable the researchers to know the characteristics and nature of the variables under study. The cross sectional design will enable the researchers meets the study objective and relates their findings to other similar studies.
b.

Study site

The study will be carried out at the Kenyatta National Hospital in the reproductive health clinic 66. This site is suitable for the study due to the fact that the target population will be easily accessible. Kenyatta National Hospital caters for both preventive and curative medical health care and more so being a referral center, the client base is wide and diverse making it a suitable study site for generalization of research findings. Clinic 66 is the reproductive health clinic in the hospital; it caters for all women seeking reproductive services especially family planning and cancer screening services. This particularly receives women of reproductive age referred from local clinics and other referral points within and without Nairobi.
c.

Participants

Study participants will include all women of reproductive age who attend clinic 66 for whatever reason not necessarily cancer screening. Inclusion criteria: Reproductive age (25 years 49 years). This is the age within the parameters of reproduction and utilizes reproductive health services. Women of this age group are perceived to be at risk to develop cancer of the breast in their lives and therefore best targeted for prevention and screening. No positive diagnosis of breast cancer Exclusion criteria Treatment for breast cancer Breast surgery

Learning disability Mental impairment

d.

Sampling procedures & sample size

Convenience sampling method will be used to arrive at the desired sample size. All women attending the clinic will be viable to enter into the study following criteria of every nth number of the population. For this study, the researchers will approach and select clinic attendee to be included in the study they agree. The sample size targeted n= 100. Instruments of data collection To collect data the study, will use questionnaire to obtain information from study participants. The structured questionnaire to be administered by the researcher to those participants who would not know how to read or write but self administered to those with abilities to read and write. The questionnaire will elicit information on demographics, knowledge and source of information, awareness and attitudes to breast cancer and self breast examination. Observation will be used to get information on competency of breast self examination. This will include the five steps process in breast self examination as performed by the participant.
e.

Data collection procedure

Structured questionnaire will be issued to each participant who will have agreed to participate for self administration / interviewer administered. After appropriate explanations, the participant will be required to fill the questionnaire in the shortest time possible and those who have knowledge on BSE will be required to perform the exercise under observation. Privacy will be provided.
f.

Data analysis and presentation

The survey data will be entered into a computer and statistical program SPSS used for analysis. Then descriptive statistics used will include the mode, percentages and frequencies. Data will be presented in graphic forms using bar graphs, histograms and pie charts and frequency tables.
g.

Ethical considerations

Informed consent will be obtained from the subjects of the study and voluntary participation so that anybody who feels uncomfortable at any point in the beginning or during the study is free to withdraw. The study team will seek authority to carry out the study from the site i.e. KNH and from the Research and Ethics Review Committee of KNH The subjects will be informed about the study. The respondents will be required to consent after being given information on the benefits, risks and any procedures followed to select them for the study participation.

The researchers will guarantee a level of confidentiality in that they would not share the individual responses outside the research purpose. No names will appear on the questionnaires or observation forms and consent forms will be kept separately from the filled questionnaires. The subjects will be informed that there is no compensation and involvement in the research process was on voluntary basis. The institutions from which the study will be conducted the will receive a copy of the research findings and no publication will be made without the institutions consent.

c.

Dissemination of Research findings

The findings of this study will be useful in promoting nursing practice especially knowledge on breast cancer screening. So it upon the researchers to ensure dissemination is timely. Results will be disseminated through publication in the Nursing journal published by the National Nurses Association of Kenya. A copy of the research report will be kept in the hospitals resource centre for references. And also the researchers will participate in educational seminars and professional conference where this report will be presented.