RESUMO
Background Breast cancer (BC) is a global public health issue, contributing to a significant death toll among women. Breast cancer is the most common type among Saudi women, accounting for over a quarter of all new cancer cases. The current approaches for detecting BC include mammography, clinical breast exams, and breast self-examination (BSE). Early diagnosis of BC is crucial for reducing mortality and morbidity. This study aims to investigate attitudes and behaviors regarding early screening and self-examination of breast cancer in Saudi Arabia. Materials and method This cross-sectional study was conducted over eight months. The sample size calculation with a 95% confidence interval and 0.05 precision rate is 600 of the total targeted group. The study included Saudi females aged 30 and above. Data were collected via an online questionnaire. The questionnaire evaluated various aspects, including information regarding sociodemographics, barriers, and attitudes toward breast cancer screening. Results The majority of participants were aged 41-50 (40.7%) and married (76.2%). Over a third (31.9%) had been diagnosed with benign breast tumors, with MRI being the most common examination method (39.2%). Regarding screening practices, 55.7% had been screened previously, with a high intention for future screening (76.8%). Attitudes toward screening were positive, with 83.4% willing to undergo testing if free, painless, and conducted by a female provider. Barriers to screening included fear of examination (30.2%) and shame about exposing the body (25.6%). Conclusion The study provides valuable insights into the demographic characteristics, prevalence of benign breast tumors, screening practices, and attitudes toward breast cancer screening among Saudi women aged 30 and above. Factors such as age, marital status, income, occupation, and geographical residency influence screening behavior and intentions. Efforts to promote awareness, reduce barriers, and improve access to screening services are essential for enhancing breast cancer detection and prevention within this population.
RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Breast cancer (BC) is among the most prevalent oncological cases in the world, and the global burden of the disease is expected to rise further in the coming years. Strategies aiming at early diagnosis, backed by research and a well-trained healthcare cadre, can aid low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in tackling the possible cancer-caused strain on healthcare systems. Our study aimed to evaluate the level of knowledge of medical students concerning BC and explore barriers and facilitators of breast self-examination (BSE). METHODS: A sequential explanatory mixed-methods study approach to better understand factors and beliefs influencing preventive health practice in BSE was conducted among students at a medical college in rural Maharashtra, India. One hundred and two female medical students completed the quantitative phase, and 15 of them gave in-depth interviews (IDIs) for the qualitative aspect. RESULTS: Among the participants, 67.6% had good knowledge of risk factors, but only 10% knew the recommendations for BSE, clinical breast examination (CBE), and mammography. We found that being taught BSE by a trusted source and knowing a BC patient were significant facilitators. In contrast, lack of self-efficacy and two fear factors were found to be acting as barriers for BSE, one being the absence of fear of ever getting BC and the other fear of detecting a lump. CONCLUSION: This study reveals a gap between knowledge of risk factors and their translation to disease prevention practice. The barriers elicited are modifiable by planning and implementing an appropriate training program covering risk factors and recommending all available screening and preventative modalities. A well-trained medical staff will be instrumental in improving the health status of our community and country.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most prevalent types of cancer among women worldwide including those in Saudi Arabia. The risk of developing BC can be lowered by reducing risk factors through early screening and by women having full knowledge of this condition. The aim of this study is thus to evaluate knowledge of the importance of early screening and detection of BC among post-menopausal women in Saudi Arabia's Qassim region and to compare it with pre-menopausal women. METHODOLOGY: A cross-sectional study was conducted among post-menopausal women in the Qassim region. Data were collected by using a pre-tested, pre-coded, validated self-administered online questionnaire. Data were analyzed using SPSS (Social Package of Statistical Science) Statistics version 23.0. RESULTS: Data were collected from 1386 women who agreed to participate in this study, of which 484 women reported that their menstruation had stopped (34.9%). In general, it was found that 73.7% of the participants had adequate knowledge with a significant difference between pre-menopausal and post-menopausal women. Concerning knowledge of BC (p = 0.042), pre-menopausal women had a higher level of knowledge (75.5% had adequate knowledge compared with 70.5% of post-menopausal women). Considering the source of knowledge of the participants regarding BC, websites or social media is considered the main source for 71.8% of the participants, followed by family and friends (52.2%). Concerning the knowledge about the risk factors of BC, 26.4% of the participants reported that they did not know them, and 11.8% of the participants did not know any of the symptoms of BC. CONCLUSION: In this study, the knowledge of post-menopausal women was found to be adequate; however, it is significantly lower than that of the pre-menopausal women. Educational level is a significant factor that affects the level of knowledge regarding BC risk factors and different modalities for diagnosis and approaches for management, and this indicates the importance of increasing interest in education in our society.