Breast cancer awareness among pharmacy and physiotherapy students of medical university Nawabshah

Author(s):  
Rao Irfan ◽  
Hisbullah Memon ◽  
Ishfaque Nazeer Umrani ◽  
Habibullah Soomro

Abstract Objective: To evaluate the knowledge and awareness of students at a medical university regarding possible risk factors and screening modalities of breast cancer. Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from January to April 2019 at the People’s University of Medical and Health Sciences for Women, Nawabshah, Pakistan, and compried young female students from first year to final year at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and the Institute of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences of the university. Data was collected using a predesigned questionnaire, and was analysed using SPSS 21. Results: Of the 450 students approached, 375(84%) completed the questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 21.06±1.164 years (range: 18-26 years). Overall, 225(60%) students said contraceptive pills could increase the risk of breast cancer, 267(71.2%) agreed that breast-feeding could reduce cancer risk, while 361 (96.27%) of the students had good mammography and clinical breast examination knowledge. Also, 308(82.13%) respondents knew about breast self-examination, but were not aware of its procedure. Conclusion: Majority of the subjects had knowledge and awareness about breast cancer, its risk factors, diagnostic parameters and possible treatment options, but they did not have knowledge regarding the procedures of breast self-examination. Key Words: Breast cancer, Risk factors, Mammography, Breast self-examination. Continuous...

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 13
Author(s):  
Mona H. Afif

Contents: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of both developed and less developed world. Breast cancer is a common malignancy among Saudi females, with a prevalence of 21.8%. Awareness of risk factors and practice of breast self-examination still has a significant role in the early detection effort of breast cancer, particularly in young women. Aim: of this study is to explore the awareness of breast cancer risk factors and the reported practice of breast self-examination among nursing students in the King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences -College of Nursing (CON-R), Kingdome of Saudi Arabia. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional correlational design was utilized in this study on a convenience sample of 373 nursing students in King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, College of Nursing (CON-R). The study used two tools. The first tool is a structured interview questionnaire designed by the researcher to collect data about the students' characteristics and to assess the student nurses' awareness of breast cancer risk factors. The second tool is a breast self-examination practice form that is designed to assess the student nurses' reported practice of breast self-examination. Results: The results of the present study show that 60.6% of the nursing students' age was between 20-24 years; 18.2 % of them had a positive family history of breast cancer. The nursing student higher awareness was revealed for risk factors of female gender (4.5±0.7), age more than 40 (4.3±0.8), positive family history (4.2±0.8), breast disease (4.1±0.8). Average awareness was revealed for risk factors of late menopause (2.8±1.8), and physical inactivity (3.0±1.1). 63.5% of students did not practice breast self-examination; among the remaining only 25.5% practicing monthly, only 5% was regularly practicing, while 31.1% of them did not practice regularly. Conclusion: The nursing students reveal a good awareness of most of the breast cancer risk factors. Despite a good awareness level, they reported that about two-thirds of students did not practice breast self-examination. The study recommended the conduction of awareness campaigns in all university campuses who are encompassing female students to enhance their awareness of breast cancer risk factors and promote their practice of breast self-examination.


2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 194
Author(s):  
Zuweina Al-Ismaili ◽  
Khalid Al-Nasri ◽  
Amal Al-Yaqoobi ◽  
Ahmed Al-Shukaili

Objectives: This study aimed to assess knowledge of breast cancer (BC) risk factors, warning signs and symptoms and breast self-examination (BSE) practice among Omani female teachers in Al-Dhahira Governorate. Methods: A cross-sectional sample of female teachers aged 20–50 years was collected from January to December 2018 from three wilayats (provinces) in Al-Dhahira—Ibri, Dhank and Yunqal. A questionnaire that included the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale and demographic characteristics was administered. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, regression analysis and Pearson’s Chi-square test. Results: A total of 478 female teachers were included in the study (response rate: 72.4%). The majority of participants (60.5%) had good overall knowledge about BC while 19.9% of participants had excellent overall knowledge. Only 9% of participants demonstrating excellent knowledge of BC risk factors. More than half of the participants (56.1%) reported excellent knowledge in screening methods. Unfortunately, only 57% of the female teachers indicated practising BSE. Knowledge of BC symptoms was closely divided between excellent and good levels (45.8 and 42.5%, respectively). BSE practice was significantly (P <0.05) correlated with overall knowledge of BC and its symptoms and screening methods, but not with knowledge of BC risk factors. Conclusion: This study revealed unsatisfactory overall knowledge of BC risk factors, symptoms, screening methods and BSE practice among female Omani teachers in Al-Dhahira Governorate. These findings constitute a challenge to healthcare providers to continue developing awareness of BC and providing health information to the public.Keywords: Breast Cancer; Awareness; Knowledge; Breast Self-Examination; Risk factors; Signs and Symptoms; Oman.


2015 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 277 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asnarulkhadi Abu Samah ◽  
Maryam Ahmadian ◽  
Latiffah A. Latiff

<p><strong>BACKGROUND:</strong> Despite continuous argument about the efficacy of breast self-examination; it still could be a life-saving technique through inspiring and empowering women to take better control over their body/breast and health.<strong> </strong>This study<strong> </strong>investigated Malaysian female university students’ knowledge about breast cancer risk factors, signs, and symptoms and assessed breast self-examination frequency among students.</p> <p><strong>METHOD:</strong> A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 2013 in nine public and private universities in the Klang Valley and Selangor. 842 female students were respondents for the self-administered survey technique. Simple descriptive and inferential statistics were employed for data analysis.</p> <p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The uptake of breast self-examination (BSE) was less than 50% among the students. Most of students had insufficient knowledge on several breast cancer risk factors.</p> <p><strong>CONCLUSION:</strong> Actions and efforts should be done to increase knowledge of breast cancer through the development of ethnically and traditionally sensitive educational training on BSE and breast cancer literacy.</p>


Author(s):  
Kavita . ◽  
Damanpreet Kaur ◽  
Jarnail Singh Thakur ◽  
Darshna . ◽  
Pushplata . ◽  
...  

Background: Breast cancer is a leading health problem in females in developing countries. It is associated with various risk factors which are largely preventable. Risk factor awareness and adherence to healthy life style can play a significant role in prevention of cancer. So, study was undertaken to assess the awareness of risk factor of breast cancer and practices of breast self-examination among unmarried females.Methods:  A descriptive cross sectional study design was adopted to recruit 150 subjects. Purposive sampling technique was used to enrol unmarried females above 19 years of age. Written informed consent was taken from participants. Interview schedule was constructed, validated and used for data collection. The data was analysed using SPSS version 20.0.Results: Findings of the study revealed that mean age of participant was 22.65±3.21 years. Most of the females were aware that non breast-feeding practices (94.7%), infertility (84.7%), using oral contraceptives pills (50.7%), advancing age (48%), and any trauma to breast (36.7%) are risk factors of breast cancer. Nearly three fourth (76%) of the subjects had good awareness of breast cancer risk factors. However, breast self-examination was only practiced by 14.6% (22) subjects from total 150 subjects.Conclusions: Study concluded that most of the women were aware about the risk factors of breast cancer, however only few were practicing breast self-examination. Since screening and early detection of breast cancer is crucial for cancer control, nurses as health professionals have a significant role to play in early detection and increasing awareness among individuals and communities. 


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (10) ◽  
pp. 1332-1345
Author(s):  
Alexis Dun Bo-Ib Buunaaim ◽  
Waliu Jawula Salisu ◽  
Hawawu Hussein ◽  
Yempabe Tolgou ◽  
Stephen Tabiri

Introduction: Breast cancer remains a major global health concern in both developed and developing countries. The current study aimed to assess the knowledge of risk factors of breast cancer (BC), and the practice of breast self-examination (BSE) among females in the Tamale Metropolis of Northern Ghana. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study involving 1122 participants; consisting of nurses 157 (14.1%), teachers 227 (20.2%), undergraduate university students 339 (30.5%), medical students 95 (8.5%) and market women 304 (27.3%). Using a convenience sampling method to select the participants, we distributed questionnaires to participants which were completed and returned. Results: Most of the participants, 498 (44.4%) were between age 19-25.  The majority were enlightened about BC (93.1%), and BSE (87.6%), 723 (64%) had good knowledge about the risk factors of BC. A total of 857 (76.4%) had previously been taught BSE. However, only 417 (37.2%) were found to practice BSE regularly. Conclusion: The knowledge of BC risk factors and BSE was remarkable, but varied in the various occupational categories. However, only a few participants practiced BSE regularly. There is a need for widespread educational campaigns to educate further and encourage women to practice BSE regularly. The inclusion of men in these crusades is long overdue. Equipped with the knowledge and skills of BSE, men could assist and encourage their spouses to frequently examine themselves. Further research studies will be necessary to ascertain the role of men in championing BSE among their significant others. Keywords: awareness; breast cancer; breast self-examination; knowledge; practice; Ghana; Tamale


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