Breast Cancer Awareness Measure Research Articles

Breast Cancer Screening Awareness and Associated Factors Among Saudi Females: A Cross-Sectional Study in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia (2024).

Breast cancer (BC) represents a major health concern for women globally, including those in Saudi Arabia. Awareness and early detection through screening practices are vital measures in improving BC outcomes. This study aims to assess the awareness and associated factors of BC screening among Saudi females in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional study was conducted in 2024 among Saudi females aged 18 and above, residing in Jeddah. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire that included sections on demographic characteristics, Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (Breast CAM), knowledge, and factors influencing participation in screening programs. The collected data was analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics. The study, consisting of 454 participants, found that half of them rarely or never checked their breastsand many were not confident about noticing any changes in their breasts. There was a strong awareness of the Ministry of Health's (MOH) BC screening program, but most were uncertain about the age at which screenings should start and end. Only a small percentage reported receiving an invitation for breast screening and an even smaller percentage have participated in the screening. Significant associations were found between higher awareness of BC signs, a monthly family income of over 20,000, and being medically free (p-value <0.05). The study found a significant gap in BC awareness and screening practices among females in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. This underlines the importance of targeted health education and awareness programs, as well as accessible and affordable screening services, to improve early detection and outcomes for BC.

Transcultural Adaptation of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure in a Rural Border Area of Greece.

Breast cancer awareness is a concept suggesting that awareness of signs and symptoms and early seeking of medical advice may decrease mortality, especially in limited resource settings. A modified questionnaire based on the breastcancerawarenessmeasure (BCAM) by Cancer Research UK was translated into Greek and used for the first time. Participants were women residing in a rural border area in Greece. For statistical analysisthe χ2 goodness-of-fit and Cramer's V test for categorical comparisons were used and Cronbach's alpha for reliability analysis. In total, 110 women filled out and returned the questionnaire. Respondents appeared to be inappropriately informed regarding the less common warning signs of breast cancer, the most common age of breast cancer occurrence, the national screening program, and the less important risk factors of breast cancer. On the other hand, most women appeared to be confident in recognizing breast changes and seeking medical advice if needed. The translated modified BCAM tool can be used to evaluate breast cancer awareness in Greek women. Future campaigns developed by policymakers should focus on improving breast cancer awareness, especially in socioeconomically deprived areas.

How "Breast Aware" are the Indian Women? A Study among the Women Visiting a Tertiary Care, Referral, and Teaching Hospital.

"Who will educate us" lamented a School Principal after she took part in our study and education session. There is palpable low breast cancer (BC) literacy with rising incidence and disproportionate mortality rates. Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) developed by Cancer Research UK was administered to 944 women. BCAM measures knowledge, age-related risk, and reported frequency of breast checking and other components. A woman is BC aware if she identified five or more nonlump symptoms, age-related risk, and reported breast checking once a week/month. At the end, each participant was given "Be Breast Aware" education; what/how to look for demonstrated on a model. 2.8% health professionals. 3.1% BC survivors. 78.8% had lump knowledge and 55.3% had non-lump knowledge of BC, 10% had age-related risk knowledge. 24.3% check breasts once a week/month. 41.9% aware BC is common after 50 years. 14/944 (1.5%) had BC awareness. 59.9% had breast symptoms, but never consulted a doctor, 31.1% were embarrassed, and 29.4% were scared to consult. Nearly 43% heard of breast screening, 28.4% had mammography, 26.3% had ultrasound. About 44.1% knew family history risk. Those practicing breast checking looked for a size change (24.5%), nipple position (17.4%), discharge (22.1%), pain (32.5%), and lump (24.7%) in standing (17.8%), supine (8.5%) using finger pads (15.8%) fingertips (21.6%), using circular movements (16.4%), and pinching breast tissue (19.6%). Health-care workers and BC survivors lack breast awareness which is alarming and indicates the need for BC awareness and post-BC treatment follow-up care education in these two groups and the general population. Some practice the wrong method (e.g., pinching tissue) of breast checking, which may lead to anxiety and unnecessary investigative costs. "Be Breast Aware" education based on the National Health Service 5-point plan given to 944 participants.

Lacked of Breast Cancer Awareness of Indonesian Rural Women: A Descriptive Study to Adult Women in District Pangandaran, Indonesia

Breast cancer remains a significant global health challenge, particularly in low and middle-income countries like Indonesia. Patients with advanced metastatic breast cancer have a dismal prognosis. A cancer promotion program’s failure can be attributed to low awareness of breast cancer. This descriptive study aimed to evaluate breast cancer awareness among adult women in District Pangandaran, Indonesia. Data was gathered in July 2018 from 189 individuals using a verified Breast Cancer Awareness Measure instrument developed by Cancer Research UK. Results revealed a concerning lack of awareness among participants regarding various breast cancer risk factors, symptoms, and screening practices. Additionally, reluctance to seek medical help due to fear of diagnosis was observed, particularly among housewives without health insurance. These findings highlight the urgent need for comprehensive health programs to enhance breast cancer awareness and promote early detection strategies tailored to the Indonesian population, especially in rural areas. Healthcare providers and public health workers play a vital role in this effort, along with implementing innovative health promotion policies by the government to improve cancer prevention programs.

Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Awareness in Rural Southwest China: A Cross-Sectional Study.

This study aimed to explore the current knowledge level of breast cancer among rural women in Southwest China and analyze the influencing factors of breast cancer cognition. From May to November 2022, 1468 rural women were invited to participate in this study. Demographic information and the Chinese version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (C-BCAM) were collected through one-on-one investigations. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multiple regression analysis in SPSS 26.0. The study included a total of 1468 rural women with a median age of 54.0 (IQR, 47.0, 60.0).The average score of breast cancer in the study population was 73.0 (IQR, 66.0, 82.0). Among women in Southwest China, the awareness rates of knowledge on breast cancer symptoms, barriers to seeking medical help, and risk factors were 68.8%, 98.4%, and 62.1%, respectively. The awareness rate was found to increase with higher education levels (P<0.001) and decrease with increasing age (P<0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified three variables that might influence breast cancer awareness: education level, contraceptive measures, and history of breast disease (all P<0.05). Specifically, history of breast disease (Odds ratio (OR) = 1.907, 95% CI = 1.128 ~ 3.223), middle school education (OR = 2.155, 95% CI = 1.585 ~ 2.928), and junior college education and above (OR = 5.536, 95% CI = 1.898 ~ 16.148) were positive factors for women's breast cancer awareness. Conversely, the use of intrauterine devices (OR = 0.523, 95% CI = 0.384 ~ 0.712) was found to be a negative factor for women's breast cancer awareness. This study highlights the insufficient awareness of breast cancer among women in rural area of Southwest China. It emphasizes the necessity of health education to improve female breast cancer awareness.

A cross-sectional study on breast cancer awareness among female students in Al-Rayan colleges in Al Medina Al Munawara

Background: This study aims to evaluate breast cancer awareness among AL-Rayan colleges female students in Al Medina Al Munawara Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 291 female students from Al-Rayan medical colleges in Al Medina Al Munawara, Saudi Arabia. Data was collected through an Arabic version of the modified breast cancer awareness measure (Breast CAM) version 2 which is a validated and reliable then administered online and distributed via social media platforms. Analysis was done by IBM SPSS version 28 and involved descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and percentiles, while factors associated with awareness levels were analyzed using Kruskal-Wallis test and Mann-Whitney test Results: The participants' mean awareness level was 17.2±7.5 out of 31, out of the total participants 52.6% had a poor awareness level. Out of the participants surveyed, only 42.6%, accurately understood the recommended frequency of conducting self-examinations each month, as secondary prevention only 33% of participants were aware of the best time to start mammography. Only a limited percentage of participants (37.8% and 47.1% respectively) demonstrated knowledge of early menopause and late menopause as potential contributing factors. There was a significant relationship between awareness level and age (p=0.001) and academic year (p=0.001). Conclusions: The findings highlight the importance of continued efforts to educate and raise awareness about breast cancer and its early detection methods among young women. the study demonstrated varying levels of understanding among participants. The overall knowledge assessment indicated that a considerable proportion of participants had moderate knowledge of breast cancer.

Breast cancer awareness among Sudanese females in Omdurman city: 2021

BackgroundBreast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed malignancy among women worldwide. In contrast to Europe, it presents generally very late in Africa. As with the rest of Africa, it is the most common primary malignancy of females in Sudan, and generally presents in stage III or IV disease. This study is intended to analyse the level of breast cancer awareness among women of Sudan.ObjectiveTo assess the level of awareness of breast cancer among Sudanese females, and their attitude towards breast changes. Also, to establish possible associations between several variables: (education level, age, contact with a breast cancer patient, residence) on awareness.MethodologyA descriptive cross-sectional community-based study of 385 females in Omdurman city, selected by convenience sampling. An interview based Arabic version of Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) was used. Data was coded and analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) v.20.ResultsA total of 385 females were included, of which 38.7% were 20–30 years, 47.8% were single, 53.8% had university education, 41% of them were currently unemployed, and 54.3% resided in Ummbadda’s locality. When asked about the signs and risk factors of breast cancer, 55.06% and 55.8% failed to name any. The cumulative percentage of correct answers of close-ended question about signs, risk factors and Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) screening program were 42.8%, 30.7% and 44.7% in that order. Only 38.2% knew the right method BSE, 48.2% of them rarely practiced it. 38.2% noticed a change in the breast tissue but didn’t visit a doctor. The majority of them, though, said they would see a doctor if they noticed a change in the future.ConclusionThere is a severe lack of awareness of breast cancer among females of the Sudanese society. Also, there was a clear ignorant attitude practiced by a significant proportion of the candidates.RecommendationsFurther research, to address the limitations of this study is to be done. FMoH has to improve its media massage and arrange targeted awareness campaigns.

Transcultural Adaptation and Validation of the Turkish Version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) Questionnaire

Purpose: To analyze the validity and reliability of the Turkish version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM-Tr).&#x0D; Material and Methods: This was cross-cultural adaptation and validation study. The study sample consisted of a total of 552 women who volunteered to participate in the study between December 2020 and November 2021. Data were collected using a descriptive characteristics form and the BCAM-Tr. The validity of the BCAM-Tr was tested with language validity, content validity, construct validity (first-level Confirmatory Factor Analysis and comparison of known groups) analyses. Reliability was evaluated by conducting test-retest analysis and internal consistency &#x0D; Results: The BCAM-Tr showed good test-retest reliability (Intraclass Correlation Coefficient=0.89) and internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha=0.89). Cohen’s kappa coefficients indicated moderate to excellent agreement (0.55-0.96). Confirmatory factor analysis confirmed a two‐factor structure. Health professionals had higher correct response rates than women in the general population (p=0.0001), indicating good construct validity.&#x0D; Conclusion : The BCAM-Tr was shown to be valid and reliable for assessing breast cancer awareness in Turkish women.

An educational intervention study to enhance breast cancer awareness among women and primary healthcare providers of an urban health center area, Visakhapatnam.

Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women worldwide posing greater health challenge. The poor survival rate from breast cancer in India may be attributed to lack of awareness, low rate of screening uptake and presentation of cases in advanced stage. To assess the baseline knowledge and effectiveness of educational intervention in improving the knowledge regarding breast cancer. A quasi-experimental community-based health educational intervention study was performed among 100 women and 18 female primary healthcare providers residing in urban field practice area. Face-to-face interviews were performed using a questionnaire adapted from the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (Breast-CAM) Version 2. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. To assess the difference between pre- and postintervention scores, Mc-Nemar's test and paired sample t tests were applied. Association between socio-demographic variables and difference in mean scores was assessed by using ANOVA and independent t test. P value less than 0.05 was taken as statistically significant. The mean pre-intervention score of knowledge items (21 including warning signs, risk factors of breast cancer) among 100 women participants was 7.19 ± 3.45 and postintervention mean score was 18.18 ± 2.42. The mean pre-intervention score among 18 primary healthcare providers was 10.89 ± 4.59 and postintervention score was 19.89 ± 1.28. There was significant improvement in mean scores. The increase in percentage of scores in all 21 items postintervention was significant (Mc-Nemar's test). There was significant association between socio-demographic profile and increase in mean scores. The study identified various barriers for seeking medical care among women. The community-based educational intervention was effective in enhancing the knowledge regarding breast cancer among women.

Effectiveness of a telehealth patient education intervention for breast cancer awareness and screening uptake among Afghan refugee women: a cross-sectional survey and feasibility study

Refugee populations have low levels of cancer awareness, low cancer screening rates, and a high rate of advanced or metastatic cancer at diagnosis. Educational interventions to improve cancer awareness and screening have been successful in other nationality refugee populations but have never been implemented in Afghan refugee populations. We aimed to estimate the level of breast cancer awareness among Afghan refugee women and test the feasibility of a telehealth breast cancer educational intervention to increase breast cancer awareness in this population. A cross-sectional survey of Afghan refugee women residing in Istanbul, Türkiye who had no personal history of breast cancer and who presented to outpatient primary clinics for care between August 1, 2022, and February 10, 2023 was performed. Participant awareness of breast cancer (BC) was assessed using the validated BC awareness tool, Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM), during a telehealth encounter. After this baseline assessment, a BC educational intervention was administered to each participant during the telehealth encounter. Six months after the initial assessment and education, a follow-up BCAM was administered via telehealth in order to determine the effectiveness of the education intervention. One hundred participants were accrued to the study. Median age was 49 years (range: 40-64). All participants had no formal education, were married, and were not employed. Prior to the educational intervention, BC awareness was low; none of the participants were able to identify some common signs/symptoms and risk factors for BC. Prior to the educational intervention, zero participants had ever had a mammogram or seen a physician for a breast-related concern. Six months after the educational intervention, up to 99 percent of participants (99 of 100 participants) were able to correctly identify common signs or symptoms and risk factors for BC. Six months after the educational intervention, all one hundred participants had accepted the offer of a screening mammogram. A telehealth BC education intervention meaningfully increased BC awareness in Afghan refugee women. This increase in BC awareness was associated with a strong increase in completion of BC screening. Further implementation of educational interventions is warranted in order to increase participant awareness and improve screening rates. Dana Farber Cancer Institute Jay Harris Junior Faculty Research Grant.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Associated Factors among Women in Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study.

Breast cancer is a highly prevalent cancer in females worldwide, with new cases around one million every year. In Pakistan, cancer of breast is the most common carcinoma in diagnosis, with one in nine females. Due to high burden of breast cancer in Pakistan, presented work purposes to investigate knowledge and awareness of breast carcinoma, its symptoms, and risk factors among Pakistani women, which play an important part in the early diagnosis of breast cancer. A sample of 1000 females were approached generally from universities, hospitals, public places, local markets, rural areas and other cities for on-site data collection through face-to-face interviews and online data collection through telephonic interviews in Pakistan using the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM). By using SPSS V. 25.0, the information provided by the individuals first changed in awareness scores and was then analyzed. The study displayed, that mainstream participants lacked knowledge of breast carcinoma (63.2%) and the importance of its screening tools (64.7% and 83.2% lacked knowledge of mammography and BRCA tests respectively) for early detection. Almost 45% of respondents never noticed a change in their breasts. Most participants were unaware about breast cancer development is age-related and lifetime risk. Slightly more than 50% of the participants of the study were not knowledgeable regarding modifiable risk factors of breast carcinoma. A commonly known symptom was Breast lump by 53% of the respondents. Association was determined between demographic variables and breast cancer knowledge scores. Only 37.4% of respondents were found to be knowledgeable regarding breast cancer. BCAM is a productive instrument to assess awareness of breast carcinoma in females. The study indicated awareness of breast cancer is suboptimal in the population of Pakistan. Efforts should be made by public awareness campaigns and broadcasting of information about breast cancer and health education to increase awareness of risk factors.

Effectiveness of an Educational Program on Awareness of Breast Cancer Risk Factors, Symptoms, and Barriers to Seeking Medical Help among Adolescent Omani School Students—An Interventional Study

Women in Oman and low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are usually diagnosed with BC at a younger age and more advanced stage, with poor five-year survival. This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of breast cancer (BC) related educational programs among female Omani adolescents. Six female-only public schools were randomly selected from three governorates of Oman and assigned to the control or interventional group. An Arabic version of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire was used to evaluate students attending grades 10 and 11 at baseline (T0) and after 4 weeks (T1). After T0, the intervention group participated in a one-hour BC education program involving group discussions, a slideshow presentation, leaflets, and online access to program materials and videos. Non-parametric tests were used to compare scores between intervention and control groups and within each group across time (T0 vs. T1). A total of 1106 students participated, of which 547 (49.5%) and 559 (50.5%) were allocated to the control and intervention groups, respectively. Recognition of BC risk factors (Z = 18.67; p < 0.001) and symptoms (Z = 20.01; p < 0.001) increased significantly in the intervention group between T0 and T1 and compared to the control group at T1 (U = 27.27; p < 0.001, and U = 25.75; p < 0.001, respectively). Anticipated time to seeking medical help (Z = 18.67; p < 0.001) and barriers to help-seeking (Z = 7.91; p < 0.001) decreased significantly between T0 and T1 in the intervention group and compared to the control group at T1 (U = 15.78; p < 0.001, and U = 3.44; p = 0.001, respectively). The program increased knowledge of BC risk factors and symptoms and promoted early medical help-seeking among Omani female adolescents. Healthcare strategic planners and policy-makers in Oman and low- and middle-income countries should consider incorporating cancer education programs in the national school curriculum to minimize delays in BC diagnosis and improve the survival rate.

Measurement of the Extent of Awareness of Al jouf Region Residents with the Importance and Methods of Breast Cancer Early Detection in Females.

Early detection of breast cancer is the most important strategy to prevent deaths from breast cancer as breast cancers that found in early stages is easier to be treated successfully. This study aimed to measure the extent of awareness of Aljouf region residents with importance and methods of breast cancer early detection in females. A cross-sectional research study of 1,026 participants from different cities in Aljouf province, aged above 18 years and successfully filled the online questionnaire from January to April 2022. Modified Breast Cancer Awareness Measure version 2 was used to assess the awareness of participants regarding early detection of breast cancer. Descriptive statistics and Pearson's chi-square tests were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that majority of participants were Saudi (98.1%), female (86.1%), aged 18-35 (77.6%), and single (62.2%) with university education (63.5%).There was no history of breast cancer in 75.8% of participant's families. The majority of the participants (68.7%) were had some knowledge about breast cancer early detection and its checkups, despite their answers containing little detailed information and a significant disparity in the correct answers. The present study showed that more than two-thirds of the participants had a poor level of awareness about early detection of breast cancer. Knowing about checkup and general knowledge significantly was related to some socio-demographic factors such as age between 18-35 years, high educational level, employment, and marriage.

Knowledge of Breast Cancer Among Urban Women in the South of Peninsular Malaysia

Introduction: : Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer globally and it is the leading cause of cancer mortality in Malaysian women. Increasing women knowledge of BC and breast self-examination (BSE) leads to increased compliance in early diagnosis and treatment. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge on BC and its association with socio-demographic characteristics among urban women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 270 urban women in the South of Peninsular Malaysia using the adapted Breast Cancer Awareness Measure. Data were analyzed through SPSS software version 26.0. Results: Of the participants, 53.7% (n=145) had poor knowledge of BC warning signs, 50.7% (n=137) of BSE and 55.6% (n=150) of risk factors. High education was associated with better BC knowledge on warning signs (p=0.006) and risk factors (p=0.048). Chinese women have poor BC knowledge on warning signs (p=0.005) and BSE (p&lt;0.001) than other ethnicities. Age (p=0.024) and marital status (p=0.028) were statistically significant with BC knowledge on breast self-examination (BSE) while family history of BC (p=0.019) and duration of seeking medical advice (p=0.041) were associated with BC knowledge on the risk factor. Conclusion: The findings of this study may give insight into effective health education strategies for urban women concerning breast cancer awareness.

Breast awareness mobile apps for health education and promotion for breast cancer.

Lack of knowledge, poor awareness, and attitude are barriers to breast cancer (BC) screening participation. The ubiquitous usage of mobile phones makes it a perfect platform for delivering interventions to increase knowledge and awareness in screening, a strategy for early identification of BC. However, although numerous applications for BC prevention are available on major mobile phone platforms, relatively few have been tested in scientific studies to determine their efficacy. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of BrAware Apps in increasing the knowledge of BC risk factors, awareness of warning signs and confidence in breast self-examination (BSE) among women in northeast peninsular Malaysia. A quasi-experimental pre and post-test research design were conducted with 41 women participants in Kelantan, Malaysia, before and after using the BrAware apps. Participants were given an online, adapted Breast Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire. Post-test was 2 months after using the BrAware apps. Comparison using paired T-tests were conducted to evaluate the change in knowledge of risk factors, warning signs awareness and confidence level for BSE. The mean age of women was 39.71(SD = 8.80). The participants' mean knowledge score of BC warning signs differs before using BrAware (mean 70.62, SD 11.74) and after using the BrAware app (mean 79.83, SD 10.15) at the <0.001 level of significance. The BrAware mobile app had a positive effect in increasing the women's knowledge of risk factors of BC, warning signs awareness and confidence level for BSE. It can be concluded that the mobile app may be an adjunct in educating women on BC.

Breast cancer awareness among Afghan refugee women in Turkey.

SummaryBackground Refugees and asylum-seekers have lower levels of cancer awareness and this contributes to low rates of screening and more advanced cancers at diagnosis, compared to non-refugee populations, due largely to reduced access to medical information and care. The global Afghan refugee population is rapidly increasing with the ongoing Afghan political crisis. The present study investigates breast cancer (BC) awareness among Afghan refugee women.MethodsA cross-sectional survey of Afghan refugee women residing in Turkey was performed in September 2021. A validated BC patient awareness assessment, the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM), was used to assess participants’ knowledge of seven domains of BC: symptoms, self-examination, ability to notice breast changes, age-related risk of BC, urgency of addressing changes in the breast, BC risk factors, and BC screening. BCAM was translated into patients’ native language and administered verbally by a physician with the assistance of an official interpreter. Routine statistical methods were employed for data analysis.FindingsA total of 430 patients were recruited to the study. The response rate was 97·7% (420 patients). The median participant age was 35 years (range: 18 to 68 years). The majority of participants (84%) had no formal education. Most participants (96%) were married, and most (95%) were not employed. Awareness of warning signs of BC was low: only seven to 18% of participants recognized 11 common warning signs of BC. Participant use of breast self-exam (BSE) was low, with 82% of participants stating they rarely or never complete BSE. Zero of 420 patients reported ever seeing a physician for a change in their breasts. Awareness of risk factors for BC was also low: only 15% of participants recognized increasing age as a risk factor for BC, and other risk factors were only recognized by four to 39% of participants.InterpretationBC awareness among Afghan refugee women is critically low. There is an urgent need to target this population for practical interventions to increase BC awareness, in addition to screening and earlier diagnosis. Evidence-based interventions include educational sessions in patients’ native language and use of BSE and clinical breast examination for screening.FundingAmerican Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) – Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) Global Health Scholar Grant, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Jay Harris Junior Faculty Research Grant.

Women\u2019s awareness of breast cancer symptoms: a national cross-sectional study from Palestine

BackgroundEarly diagnosis is crucial to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with breast cancer (BC). Awareness of BC symptoms plays a key role in this. This study aimed to evaluate the Palestinian women’s awareness of BC symptoms and determine factors associated with good awareness.MethodsThis was a national cross-sectional study conducted from July 2019 to March 2020 in Palestine. Convenience sampling was used to recruit adult women from hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces located in 11 governorates. A translated-into-Arabic version of the validated BC awareness measure was utilized for data collection. The awareness level was categorized based on the number of symptoms recognized into: poor (0 to 4), fair (5 to 9), and good (10 to 13).ResultsOf 6269 approached, 5434 participants completed the questionnaire (response rate = 86.7%). A total of 5257 questionnaires were included in the analysis: 2551 from the Gaza Strip and 2706 from the West Bank and Jerusalem (WBJ). Participants living in the WBJ were more likely to be older, have higher monthly income, and suffer from more chronic diseases than participants living in the Gaza Strip.The most frequently identified BC symptom was ‘lump or thickening in the breast’ (n = 4887, 92.9%) followed by ‘lump or thickening under the armpit’ (n = 4394, 83.6%). The least frequently identified symptoms were ‘pulling in of the nipple’ (n = 2665, 50.7%) and ‘change in the position of the nipple’ (n = 2710, 51.6%).A total of 2191 participants (41.7%) demonstrated good awareness of BC symptoms. Participants from the Gaza Strip were more likely than participants from the WBJ to have good awareness (47.0.0% vs. 36.7%). On the multivariable analysis, being ≥ 40 years, completing a post-secondary education, knowing someone with cancer, and visiting hospitals and primary healthcare centers were all associated with an increase in the likelihood of having good awareness. However, living in the WBJ was associated with a decrease in the likelihood of having good awareness.ConclusionLess than half of women included in this study showed good awareness of BC symptoms. More targeted educational interventions are needed to promote Palestinian women’s awareness of BC symptoms to facilitate early diagnosis.

Level and predictors of breast cancer awareness among Saudi women: A nationwide study.

Breast cancer occurs when abnormal breast cells grow rapidly and uncontrollably. Early detection and intervention have been established to significantly decrease mortality rates. There is a lack of focused research investigating the degree of breast cancer awareness among Saudi women. Thus, this study aimed to fill this gap by conducting a nationwide survey on a large pool of women. A cross-sectional web-based nationwide study. This study targeted Saudi women from all regions of the country and was conducted from 20 August to 3 September 2021. The study used the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure questionnaire to measure breast cancer awareness. This study was approved by the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center institutional review board. Overall, poor breast cancer awareness scores were demonstrated by 71% of the participants. Unemployed women were more likely to have poor breast cancer awareness. Our study reports an alarmingly high level of poor overall breast cancer awareness in Saudi women. Interventions should be implemented to combat this lack of awareness.

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.

Breast Cancer Awareness and Associated Factors Amongst Women in Peshawar, Pakistan: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background:Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and the second overall, following lung cancer. Breast cancer can occur at any age, with an increased incidence in women 40 years and above. Worldwide the incidence is around 1 million cases per year, 60% of the cases reported from low- and middle-income countries. The current study was conducted to determine knowledge, attitude, and practices related to breast cancer, the associated risk factors, and screening methods in women presenting to a health care facility from resource-poor settings in Pakistan.Methods:A cross-sectional study design was used, and participants were recruited phase-wise from three major outpatient departments (OPDs) (Gynecology and Obstetrics OPD, Medical OPD, and Surgical OPD). Data were collected through the validated “Breast Cancer Awareness Measure” developed by Cancer Research UK, King’s College London, and University College London in 2009. Data were analyzed through Statistical Package for Social Sciences software (SPSS) version 23.0. Students’s T-Test, ANOVA, and linear regression analysis were conducted.Results:A total of 430 women were invited for participation in the study from the 3 main OPDs, and 400 took part in the study (response rate = 93.02%). The mean age of the women was 33.62 years ± 12.3 years, and the mean years of formal education were 5.05 ± 6.3 years. Less than a quarter of the participants were aware of the breast cancer warning signs, and 23.3% recognized the pain in the armpit or one of the breasts as a sign of breast cancer. The proportion of women aware of age-related and lifetime risk of getting breast cancer was 15.0%. Furthermore, only 2.5% performed breast self-examination at least once a month. Women identified many barriers like embarrassment, transport, and confidentiality issues in seeking medical help.Conclusion:Overall, women had poor knowledge of breast cancer, related warning signs, breast self-examination, risk factors, and screening methods.