Health Beliefs of Nursing Faculty Students about Breast Cancer and Self Breast Examination

Exploring female medical students' knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceptions related to breast cancer screening: a scoping review

Early detection measures for breast cancer, such as breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and mammography, have considerable benefits in effectively reducing breast cancer-related mortality. As the incidence of breast cancer is steadily increasing, it is crucial to raise awareness on early detection. This scoping review assessed the current knowledge, attitudes, practices, and perceptions of breast cancer screening among female medical students. We used the six phases of Arksey and O'Malley's framework from the Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR) template. Our analysis included 43 articles from Google Scholar and PubMed search engines, focusing on female medical students. Our results showed that most female medical students had a satisfactory level of knowledge about the most common signs, symptoms, and early detection methods of breast cancer. Generally, their attitude and perceptions were positive regarding breast cancer-related preventive measures. However, the level of practice was reduced. Further efforts are necessary to promote and improve the practice of breast self-examination, clinical breast exams, and mammography among female medical students. Potential interventions could include modifications to the medical curriculum and social media campaigns to enhance engagement and adoption of these practices.

Effects of Model-Based Interventions on Breast Cancer Screening Behavior of Women: a Systematic Review

Background: Breast cancer is a great concern for women’s health; early detection can play a key role in reducing associated morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study was to systematically assess the effectiveness of model-based interventions for breast cancer screening behavior of women. Methods: We searched Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct, Cochrane library and Google scholar search engines for systematic reviews, clinical trials, pre- and post-test or quasi-experimental studies (with limits to publication dates from 2000-2017), Keywords were: breast cancer, screening, systematic review, trials, and health model. In this review, qualitative analysis was used to assess the heterogeneity of data. Results: Thirty six articles with 17,770 female participants were included in this review. The Health belief model was used in twenty three articles as the basis for intervention. Two articles used both the Health belief model and the Health Promotion Model, 5 articles used Health belief model and The Trans theoretical Model, 2 used Hthe ealth belief model and Theory planned behavior, 2 used the Health belief model and the Trans theoretical Model, 2 used the Trans theoretical Model, 1 used social cognitive theory, and 1 used Systematic Comprehensive Health Education and Promotion Model. The results showed that model-based educational interventions are more effective for BSE and CBE and mammography screening behavior of women compare to no model based intervention. The Health belief model was the most popular model for promoting breast cancer screening behavior. Conclusions: Educational model-based interventions promote self-care and create a foundation for improving breast cancer screening behavior of women and increase policy makers’ awareness and efforts towards its enhancement breast cancer screening behavior.

Evaluating female nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding breast self-examination

The purpose of this study was to evaluate female nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding breast self-examination (BSE). The sample consisted of 175 nursing students from a university in Cyprus. We collected data via a questionnaire that included the Greek version of the Champion Health Belief Model scale and questions regarding the participants' demographic characteristics. More than half of the participants (58.3%) said that they were knowledgeable about BSE and 29.1% of them had been taught about it during their studies. Nevertheless, 59.9% reported never having performed BSE, while 40.1% had performed it at least once. Only 10.9% of the students performed BSE every month for more than a year. Self-confidence had a positive and significant correlation (0.86) with BSE frequency. Also, we found quite a low level of BSE knowledge and practice levels, and this highlights the need for establishing breast cancer prevention programs.

Knowledge about Risk Factors for Breast Cancer and Having a Close Relative with Cancer Affect the Frequency of Breast Self-Examination Performance

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer incidence and mortality rates are increasing in North-Eastern Brazil and the patients with the disease often presented at advanced stages. The present study was focused on identifying variables that affect women's frequency of breast self- examination (BSE) performance.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data on BSE, socio-economic parameters and risk factors for breast cancer were obtained from 417 women from a community in North-Eastern Brazil by a self-informant method. To identify independent variables that affect frequency of BSE, nominal logistic regression analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Of 417 women, 330 (79.3%) reported performing BSE. Compared to high-income women, BSE performance by low-income women every month was 7.69 (OD=0.130; CI 95%: 0.044- 0.0386; p=0.000) times lower. Women who did not live in a stable union performed BSE each month 2.73 (OD=0.366; CI 95%: 0.171-0.782; p=0.010) less often than those living in a stable union. BSE performance every month and every six months or every year by women with poor knowledge about risk factors for breast cancer was 3.195 (OD=0.313; CI 95%: 0.141- 0.695; p=0.004) times and 2.028 (OD=0.493; CI 95%: 0.248- 0.979; p=0.043) times lower, compared to women with good knowledge. Participants who had a close relative with cancer performed BSE every month and every six months or every year 2.132 (OD=0.469; CI 95%: 0.220-0.997; p=0.049) times and 2.337 (OD=0.428; CI 95%: 0.219-0.836; p=0.013) times less often, compared to those women without close relatives with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study indicated that income, marital status, knowledge about risk factors and having a close relative with breast cancer, affect the frequency of BSE performance. Information about risk factors in public health campaigns could additionally strengthen avoidance behaviour and also motivate BSE performance.