Awareness of breast cancer screening and risk factors among Saudi females at family medicine department in security forces hospital, Riyadh

Breast Cancer Knowledge and Associated Behaviors in Northern Borders, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Breast cancer remains a significant public health issue globally and is notably pervasive within the female population, representing a leading cause of concern. It poses a challenge across different age groups and is influenced by diverse risk factors that include genetic predispositions and various elements of lifestyle. Saudi Arabia, mirroring the global situation, has also seen its share of this disease's impact, prompting a closer look at the factors contributing to its prevalence. Educating the public and advocating for lifestyle changes are crucial steps in cancer prevention. With early-stage diagnosis and screening, many lives can potentially be saved. Our research is focused on understanding the level of awareness and preventative practices among women in the Northern Border region of Saudi Arabia. It seeks to explore the influence of familial history on knowledge and perceptions surrounding breast cancer, which could guide future educational and screening programs. Methods This cross-sectional study engaged 643 female participants, aged 18 and above, from the Northern Border region of Saudi Arabia upon their informed consent. Data were compiled via a structured questionnaire encompassing sociodemographic information, breast cancer knowledge, and preventive practices. Results The data disclosed that a significant majority (86%) recognized breast lumps as indicative of breast cancer, with 69.1% cognizant of hereditary risks. Awareness about lactation as a preventative strategy was noted in 76.7% of the participants, followed by 70.6% acknowledging the merits of a healthy diet. The study unveiled no substantial awareness disparity between individuals with or without a family history of the disease. Alarmingly, 80.4% had never sought a breast examination, and a parallel 83.7% had not undergone mammography. Conclusion The study sheds light on the heterogeneity in breast cancer awareness among women in Saudi Arabia's Northern Border region. Although the recognition of lumps and the preventative role of lactation is relatively high, there remains a deficit in comprehending additional symptoms, signs, and risk factors. The conspicuously low rates of breast cancer examinations and mammography underscore an urgent need for enhanced educational initiatives and a strategic push toward bolstering participation in regular cancer screenings.

Knowledge and Attitudes Regarding Breast Cancer Screening and Mammograms Among Women Aged 40 Years and Older in the United Arab Emirates

OBJECTIVES

To assess the knowledge and attitude regarding breast cancer screening and mammograms among 40 years and older females in the United Arab Emirates.

METHODS

 A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted on women faculty, staff, and female patients attending our hospital. The inclusion criteria were women ≥ 40 years old who agreed to participate. The exclusion criteria were women < 40 and those ≥ 40 years who refused to participate. A signed informed consent was taken. A p-value of < 0.5 was considered significant.

RESULTS

 Among the 460 women enrolled, 420 completed the survey (response rate 91%). The mean age was 48.4 ± 8.2 years. A total of 63.4% of the participants were < 50 years of age. A total of 53.3% were never screened before. About 98% believed that screening is beneficial in early detection. Social media (52.2%) and health professionals (46%) played a vital role in creating awareness. The majority of women were aware of self-breast examinations (73.3%), followed by mammography (68.6%). About 84% and 68.3%, of the participants had incorrect knowledge of the timing and frequency of mammograms, respectively. Only 16.3% of the participants were recommended by their physician, while the rest (83.7%) performed screening based on their awareness. No significant association was found between nutritional status (p=0.252), age at first pregnancy (p=0.409), or having children (p= 0.377) with mammogram uptake. There was a significant association between the perceived benefit of screening and mammogram uptake (p=0.033). There was a positive association between radiation therapy to the chest area and mammogram uptake (p<0.024). A statistically significant association was found between the correct timing of mammograms with family history of cancer (p = 0.037) and previous exposure to radiation therapy to the chest (p = 0.002).

CONCLUSION

There is a need to increase knowledge and awareness regarding breast cancer screening and mammograms among women in UAE. Specifically, breast self-examination should be encouraged and recommended.

Early Detection of Breast Cancer in Indonesia: Barriers Identified in a Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

The lack of early detection in breast cancer management has been identified as the primary factor contributing to the high mortality rate. The introduction of BPJS Kesehatan, Indonesia's national health insurance, was intended to ensure the provision of adequate health services for breast cancer patients. This study aimed to investigate the current state of health services in Indonesia concerning the early detection of breast cancer, following the implementation of BPJS Kesehatan introduction.

METHODS

The study was conducted in 2017 in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Subjects were recruited using a purposive sampling technique with maximum variation. The sample comprised breast cancer patients, health care professionals (HCPs), and healthy women from the general population with no history of breast cancer. The subjects' experiences and knowledge of health services regarding the early detection of breast cancer were investigated through in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to synthesize the results from interviews with 25 participants.

RESULT

This study identified several issues that hinder the timely detection of breast cancer. The lack of both screening and diagnostic procedures emerged as a prominent obstacle in breast cancer management. The study identified the following barriers: (1) limited community knowledge about early detection; (2). lack of urgency among patients to seek medical treatment; (3) limited access to health facilities; and (4) inconsistent adherence among health care professionals to guidelines for both screening and diagnostic procedures.

CONCLUSIONS

This study revealed multiple factors contributing to the delay in breast cancer detection in Indonesia, leading to suboptimal management of the disease. It is crucial for the government to prioritize the improvement of enabling factors across all levels of care for early detection. These factors include initiatives to increase public awareness, improve access to health services, strengthen the referral system, and enhance health facilities.

Evaluation of participation and performance indicators in a breast cancer screening program in Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate early performance indicators for breast cancer screening at the King Abdulaziz University Hospital in Saudi Arabia.

METHODS

This study retrospectively evaluated data from women who underwent their first breast cancer screening program in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia between 2012 and 2019. Data on screening results were used to estimate performance indicators and generate descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

Of the 16000 women invited from 2012 to 2019, a total of 1911 (11.9%) participated. The majority of women (68.8%) were between 40 and 55 years old. Based on the screening process results, 26.6%, 40.1%, 9.7%, 1.3%, 0.7%, and 5.2% of women had BI-RADS scores of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R0 respectively. The remaining 16.3% did not have mammogram records. The recall rate, or the percentage of women who underwent further evaluation, was 19.9%; 18.9% underwent a biopsy procedure. In addition, 1.6% of women had cancer screen-detected, although only 0.7% were diagnosed with breast cancer.

CONCLUSION

In light of the low participation and high recall rates, it is essential that the screening program utilizes performance indicators to optimize resource utilization and ensure the quality of the service provided. Additionally, a national framework and standardized performance indicators could mitigate this problem for other cancer screening programs.

Knowledge and Factors Associated with Breast Cancer Self-Screening Intention among Saudi Female College Students: Utilization of the Health Belief Model

Breast cancer (BC) screening is vital, as it is linked to a greater likelihood of survival, more effective treatment, and better quality of life. One of the most extensively applied models for conceptualizing probable barriers and facilitators to the adoption of desired health behavior is the health belief model (HBM). This study aimed to assess the impact of health perception and knowledge on breast self-examination intention (BSE) using HBM. HBM measures specific factors (perceived susceptibility, severity, barriers, benefits, cues to action, and self-efficacy) that impact one's intention to use BSE. Data were collected from female undergraduate students (n = 680) using a cross-sectional design, stratified simple random sampling, and a self-administered structured online questionnaire. We used multivariable logistic regression to evaluate our assumptions for students who intended to self-examine for BC. For demographic factors, we modified the multivariate model. Most respondents (93%) were under the age of 24 years. Female students from health colleges (48.5%), in their fourth academic year (42.6%), and from the southern region (57.6%) accounted for the majority of the sample. Respondents with a family history of BC were 9.7% of the total. Categories for age, college, region, residency, and BSE intention showed significant differences in their average knowledge scores. The survey revealed that 72.4% were aware of abnormal breast changes. Three constructs of the health belief model (perceived benefit, perceived barriers, and self-efficacy) are good predictors of BSE intention. Theory-based behavioral change interventions are urgently required for students to improve their prevention practices. Furthermore, these interventions will be effective if they are designed to remove barriers to BSE intention, improve female students' self-efficacy, and enlighten them on the benefits of self-examination.

The Relationship Between e-Health Literacy and Breast Cancer Literacy Among Saudi Women

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women and represents a significant burden among women worldwide. The concept of health literacy is relatively new to the Gulf states, particularly to Saudi Arabia. Research on this topic is scarce, and no study has empirically explored the influence of e-health literacy on breast cancer literacy. The purpose of this study was to measure the impact of e-health literacy on breast cancer literacy among Saudi women in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional survey was conducted online in a cohort of 336 women and disseminated via social media using the e-Health Literacy Scale (eHEALS) and Breast Cancer Literacy Assessment Tool (Breast-CLAT). Multiple regression analysis was executed to identify the sociodemographic factors that influence the e-health literacy and breast cancer literacy of participants. The participants showed high level of e-health literacy with total eHEALS score of 28.79, and better breast cancer literacy with total Breast-CLAT score of 23.44. This study yielded three significant findings: (1) e-health literacy is influenced by age and education which implies that youngest participants showed higher eHEALS scores than their older counterparts and that having increased education level reflected increased eHEALS scores, (2) breast cancer literacy is predicted by education and income which suggests that those who have higher levels of education and higher monthly incomes have increased levels of breast cancer literacy, and (3) breast cancer literacy and e-health literacy were associated which shows that participants with higher eHEALS scores were more likely have increased level of breast cancer literacy. The study revealed that the participants had high level of e-health literacy which correlated to their increased level of breast cancer literacy. The study findings implied that it is important for Saudi women to possess high levels of e-health literacy about breast cancer as more breast cancer educational resources are online nowadays.

Screening Practices, Knowledge and Adherence Among Health Care Professionals at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Introduction

Screening, a routine procedure done on individuals with or without disease, results in the early detection of disease. The aim of this study was to assess healthcare professionals’ (HCPs) level of knowledge related to and the adherence to screening.

Methods

A survey was conducted in HCPs, using a self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge was defined based on the correct or incorrect responses to the questions. Adherence to screening was considered if a test was done at least once in the past one year.

Results

Of the 379 participants, 61% were nurses, 34% physicians, and 5% pharmacists. The majority 68.78% were female. The average age of pharmacists was 29.17±7.09, physicians 35.57±10.08, and nurses 35.46±8.63 years. The knowledge related to breast cancer screening ranged between 50% and 57% and of a Pap smear, 41–54%. 94% nurses and 90% pharmacists had recorded an incorrect response to the required age of colon cancer screening. The overall screening adherence to diabetes was 46%, hypertension 68%, liver profile 43%, lipid profile 50%, breast cancer 10.38%, Pap smear 26%, prostate cancer 33%, and colon cancer 2.37%. HCPs aged ≥45 years had good adherence to diabetes screening. Pharmacists (88%) had the highest level of adherence to hypertension screening. Female HCPs poorly adhered to breast 38% and cervical cancer 26% screening. Only a third 33% of males, aged > 50 years, were screened for prostate cancer. Among HCPs aged ≥50 years (n=32), only three were screened for colon cancer.

Conclusion

Despite the increased incidence of diabetes, breast and colon cancer in Saudi Arabia, HCPs displayed poor knowledge related to screening. The adherence to diabetes screening was good. However, HCPs in a high-risk group displayed poor adherence to screening, specifically for breast, cervical and colon cancer. The medical and cancer screening guidelines should be made available to all HCPs regardless of their specialty.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Concerning Breast Cancer and Self Examination Among Females in UAE

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent cancers and the leading cause of cancer related deaths among women worldwide with a steadily increasing global annual incidence. This study aims is to evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practice of females in the UAE toward BC and Breast Self-Examination practice in the seven Emirates. This was a face-to-face questionnaire-based study using CAM (Breast Cancer Awareness Measure) conducted over 3 months (from March to June 2019) on a random sample of females across the UAE. Of the 400 females who filled the questionnaire, 112 (28%) did the CBE at least once, and 184 (46%) practice BSE. Only 33% of participants were aware of the incidence of the BC in the UAE and those females were more likely to practice BSE (P < 0.05). In contrast, the majority showed a high awareness level in identifying cancer as a curable (91.5%) and non-transmittable (87%) disease that can be diagnosed at its earlier stages (93%). Only 11% of the participants identified weight reduction as a way to prevent BC. Knowledge of breast cancer sign/symptoms were good, as 41-87% of respondents were able to identify at least a single sign/symptom. The lack of awareness of BC among females in the UAE is of concern as it leads to low practices of screening and early detection, which ultimately will result in increased morbidity, mortality, and treatment costs. Further initiatives should be taken to increase practice, knowledge and awareness on early detection and screening for BC in the UAE community.

Awareness of Breast Cancer among Female Students and Faculty from Najran University, Najran, Saudi Arabia

Background:

Breast cancer (BC) is the leading malignancy among women in Najran, Saudi Arabia. However, not much is known about the public’s awareness of BC. This study explored the general knowledge, early warning signs, risk factors and sources of information about BC.

Methods:

An online-based, anonymous, self-rating, cross-sectional and survey-based study was conducted from March-2019 to April-2019. Three-hundred female students and/or faculty from College of Medicine, Najran University (Najran, Saudi Arabia) participated in the study.

Results:

A total of 232 students (77.3%) and 68 faculty (22.7%) responded to the survey. Our study showed that nulliparity (83.8%) and early menarche before 12 years of age (29.7%) were the most pertinent obstetric risk factors of BC. Conversely, lack of physical activity (66.3%) and family history of BC (18%) were the most substantial non-obstetric risk factors of BC. According to pre-defined criteria, while the surveyed research subjects demonstrated ‘good’ general knowledge about BC (75.3%), they unfavorably exhibited ‘poor’ knowledge about the warning signs of BC (94.3%). The predictors of ‘good’ overall knowledge (general knowledge plus signs knowledge about BC) included age, marital status, educational level and family history (all p<0.05, two-tailed Chi-square test). Apart from the campaigns’ educational materials (43%), the top source of knowledge about BC was internet (33%), whereas the lowest ones were healthcare professionals (11.3%) and training workshops (7.3%).

Conclusions:

The surveyed research subjects harbored risk factors of BC and demonstrated ‘poor’ knowledge about the warning early signs of BC. We call for rigorous and well-crafted educational campaigns geared toward improving the awareness level of BC among women in Najran province.