Background: Breast cancer is among the most common life-threatening public health problems of global concern including Ethiopia. Knowledge and awareness about the disease will help to reduce the number of cases who present at late stages of the disease. The objective of this survey was to assess the knowledge, perception and risk awareness about breast cancer among female medical and health science students of University of Gondar, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted from May 03 to June 01, 2017 at University of Gondar, Ethiopia. Three hundred students were proportionally selected from nine departments using simple random sampling method. Using a structured questionnaire data on risk factors, symptoms and perception about breast cancer and its management approach was collected. Data were entered to and analyzed using SPSS version 21. Results: A total of 300 students had fully completed the survey making the response rate 95.24. The participants' mean age was 21.4 years with the standard deviation (SD) of 2.13 years. The overall level of knowledge on breast cancer was low. Majority of the participants were unaware for complex risk factors such as first child after the age of 30 years (51%), early onset of menses (55.3%), and menopause after the age of 55 years (47.7%) are liked with breast cancer even though they acknowledged old age, family history, and smoking as possible risk factors for breast cancer. Pain in the breast region, change in the shape of the breast, and nipple discharge were the most frequently correctly identified symptoms of breast cancer. Majority of the study participants had also correct beliefs about breast cancer management and its outcomes. however, they had negative perception of breast cancer treatment by considering it to be a long-term and painful process. In binary logistic regression analysis department (p = 0.000) and year of study (p = 0.008) were found to be an independent predicting factors for knowledge among the study participants. Conclusions: The overall level of knowledge on breast cancer and clinical breast examination guidelines was found to be low even though majority had positive perception toward the treatment and its outcomes. Hence, intensive breast health awareness campaign, which should also stress on the importance of early detection and reporting, is necessary to improve the knowledge about breast cancer.

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Evaluation of Knowledge, Perception, and Risk Awareness About Breast Cancer and Its Treatment Outcome Among University of Gondar Students, Northwest Ethiopia.

Aim: This study aimed to measure breast cancer (BC) awareness among women in Al-Qassim and to compare the results to previous studies in Saudi Arabia and international studies. Method: This is a cross-sectional study conducted in Al-Qassim region, Saudi Arabia. All women above 18 years of age were included and those who could not complete the questionnaire for any reason were excluded. The data were collected by using a valid pretested structured questionnaire taken from previous studies. Descriptive statistics were presented using frequency and proportion for all categorical variables and mean ± standard deviation for continuous variable. The relationship between dependent variable versus independent variables had been conducted using Chi-square test. P value of ≤0.05 was considered as statistically significant. Results: Nearly all participants were highly aware of BC (95.4%) and half of them correctly identified that not only females are affected by BC. With regards to personal breast assessment, more than a half of them have done breast self-examination; however, only one out of four females had done clinical breast examination and mammography test. The most common risk factor of BC was family history and the commonest signs and symptoms were the size and shape changes of the breast. The prevalence of poor knowledge was 202 (38.9%) while good knowledge was 317 (61.1%). Age group in years and use of oral contraceptives were the independent significant factors of poor knowledge. Conclusion: The overall knowledge of women about BC in this study was inadequate. While half of the women performed breast self-examination on the contrary, the actual clinical breast examination found to be low. The most common risk factor being identified was family history of BC and smoking. Size and shape changes of breast as well as breast lump were the most common signs and symptoms. Age group in years and the use of contraceptives pills were being identified as the significant factors of knowledge toward BC.

Breast cancer knowledge and awareness among females in Al-Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia in 2018.

Evaluation of breast cancer awareness among female university students in University of Sharjah, UAE

Objective The purposes of this study were to assess the level of Breast Cancer (BC) awareness of Jordanian female university students, measure their attitudes toward BC treatment, and compare the level of awareness and attitudes of students in the science and humanities faculties. Materials and Methods The current study was cross-sectional and conducted among female students in Zarqa University in Jordan. Stratified random sampling and simple random sampling were employed to select the colleges and the students, respectively. The sample size was 326 students. Data was collected and analyzed by self-administered questionnaire and SPSS version 23.0, respectively. Results The number (proportion) of university students who had poor levels of awareness of BC, general knowledge about BC scale, knowledge about BC symptoms scale, and knowledge about risk factors of BC scale were was 270 (83%), 166 (51%), 182 (56%) and 292 (90%), respectively. Also, 92 (28%) students and 234 (72%) students had high and medium attitudes toward BC treatment, respectively. There were significant differences between the humanities and science faculties students' awareness about BC and their attitudes toward BC treatment (p<0.05). Also, the results revealed that the students' main information source about BC was mainly health-care professionals, followed by internet and television. Conclusion The current status of awareness of BC among Jordanian female students and their attitudes toward BC treatment are insufficient. Therefore, university compulsory courses need to be modified to include BC topics and promote awareness about BC.

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Evaluation of Breast Cancer (BC) Awareness among Female University Students in Zarqa University, Jordan.

To assess the level of breast cancer knowledge, attitude and practice among female Beni-Suef University students. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Beni-Suef University. A convenience sample of 963 female students (489 non-medical and 474 medical) was included. The sample was selected from different colleges with a response rate of 87%. The mean age of non-medical and medical participants was 19.4 years (SD ± 1.24) and 20.74 years (SD ± 1.5), respectively. Medical students were more knowledgeable about breast cancer risk factors. Breast self-examination (BSE) practice was known by 72.4% of medical students vs. 47.6% of non-medical ones. Nearly two-thirds of the medical students performed BSE at the best time during the menstrual cycle. Poor level of knowledge and practice was found among non-medical students compared with a good level of knowledge and practice among medical students (P = 0.001). Both groups showed insufficient levels with regard to attitude. Non-medical students showed positive predictors for poor and insufficient knowledge (OR = 469.2 and 62.17, respectively). Having relatives with breast cancer was a significant negative predictor for the state of poor practice (OR = 1.809). Willingness to attend awareness and training seminars was a significant negative predictor for the state of insufficient practice among the non-medical students (OR = 0.624). The level of knowledge and practices toward breast cancer was higher among medical students. The overall level of BSE practice was low, with a significant difference between the medical and non-medical students.

Breast cancer knowledge, attitude and practice among medical and non-medical university students

Background: Breast cancer is a common health problem among females in Saudi Arabia. The disease account for 27% of all female malignancies representing 25.1% of all newly diagnosed female cancers. The objectives of the current study were to assess the level of carcinoma breast awareness of female university students, Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia and to compare the level of awareness, breast self-examination and breast cancer screening between medical and non-medical students. Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional, conducted among female students in Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia. The stratified and the systematic sampling were employed to select the colleges and the students respectively. The sample size was calculated as 325. Data was collected by a pre tested questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS. Results: The university students who acquired good knowledge were 111 (34.2%). Students who acquired average and poor knowledge were 42.2% and 23.6% respectively. Medical students who had good knowledge were 37.6% compared to 26.9% of non-medical students.  The results showed that 94 (28.9%) of the participants practice breast self-examination and 25 (7.6%) performed a screening test. Conclusions: The study concluded that Majmaah University students’ awareness of carcinoma breast is low. There is no significant difference in the level of awareness between students of medical colleges and those of non-medical colleges. The level of practicing breast self-examination and performing screening test for carcinoma breast among female university students is low. There is a significant difference in performing carcinoma breast screening test between medical and non-medical students.

Mohammad Awadh Almutairi

Papers

Breast cancer awareness and breast self-examination among future female university graduates: comparison between medical and non-medical students