Breast Cancer Screening Practices Research Articles

Knowledge of breast cancer, willingness and barriers to mammography screening among rural women in Enugu State, Nigeria.

Breast cancer is a serious public health threat. Mammography is the most reliable screening method that detects breast cancer early, enabling early onset of treatment which improves the prognosis of the disease. To determine women's knowledge of breast cancer, as well as barriers and willingness of women to participate in mammography screening. Using the cross-sectional survey design, we sampled and studied two rural communities of Enugu State, Nigeria. Two researcher-made questionnaires were used for the study. Frequencies, percentages, chi-square and regression analysis were employed in data analysis. Only 11.4 percent of study participants had good knowledge of breast cancer. There were significant differences in knowledge of breast cancer based on level of education (χ2 = 15.670; p =.001), monthly income (χ2 =6.954; p = .021) and ever screened (χ2 =5.242; p =.015). Lack of money (48.0%) and lack of knowledge (30.4%) were the most reported barriers to breast cancer screening. Women that had ever screened were 92.3% less likely willing to be screened than those never screened (aOR: .077, 95%CI .011-.522, p=.009). Health Education should be combined with improving women's economic status and subsidizing the cost of screening to increase breast cancer screening practice.

Breast and cervical cancer screening practices in nine countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia: A population-based survey

BackgroundEastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA) countries have higher cervical and breast cancer mortality rates and later stage at diagnosis compared with the rest of WHO European Region. The aim was to explore current early detection practices including “dispensarization” for breast and cervix cancer in the region. MethodsA questionnaire survey on early detection practices for breast and cervix cancer was sent to collaborators in 11 countries, differentiating services in the primary health setting, and population-based programs. Responses were received from Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation (Arkhangelsk, Samara and Tomsk regions), Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan. ResultsAll countries but Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, and the Russian Federation had opportunistic screening by clinical breast exam within “dispensarization” program. Mammography screening programs, commonly starting from age 40, were introduced or piloted in eight of nine countries, organized at national oncology or screening centres in Armenia, Belarus and Georgia, and within primary care in others. Six countries had “dispensarization” program for cervix cancer, mostly starting from the age 18, with smears stained either by Romanowsky-Giemsa alone (Belarus, Tajikistan and Ukraine), or alternating with Papanicolaou (Kazakhstan and the Russian Federation). In parallel, screening programs using Papanicolaou or HPV test were introduced in seven countries and organized within primary care. ConclusionOur study documents that parallel screening systems for both breast and cervix cancers, as well as departures from evidence-based practices are widespread across the EECA. Within the framework of the WHO Initiatives, existing opportunistic screening should be replaced by population-based programs that include quality assurance and control.

ASO Visual Abstract:Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Screening Practices Reported via an Online Survey.

ASO Visual Abstract:Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Screening Practices Reported via an Online Survey.

Breast Cancer Risk Assessment and Screening Practices Reported Via an Online Survey.

Breast cancer screening guidelines differ between organizations, and significant variations in practice patterns exist. Previous evidence suggests that provider-level factors are the greatest contributors to risk assessment and screening practice variability. This study aimed to characterize provider factors associated with breast cancer risk assessment and screening practice patterns, and to assess perceived barriers to providing risk assessment. An online survey was distributed to providers at a single academic institution and to providers publicly via social media (January to August 2022). Respondents in the United States who care for adult women at risk for the development of breast cancer were included. Most of the respondents in the 143 completed surveys were white/Caucasian (79%) females (90%) age 50 years or younger (79%), and whereas 97% discuss breast cancer screening with their patients, only 90% order screening mammograms. Risk factor assessment was common (93%), typically performed at the first visit (51%). Additional training in genetics or risk assessment was uncommon (17%), although the majority were interested but did not have the time or resources (55%). Although most (64%) did not perceive barriers to providing risk assessment or appropriate screening, the most common barriers were time (77%) and education (55%). Barriers were more common among family practice or obstetrics and gynecology (OB/GYN) providers and those who worked in an academic setting (all p < 0.05). Breast cancer risk assessment and screening practices are highly variable. Although time is the major barrier to providing risk assessment, providers also need education. Primary care organizations could partner with breast cancer-focused societies for additional resources.

Knowledge, practice, and negligence of Breast Cancer screening among women in Jeddah

Knowledge, practice, and negligence of Breast Cancer screening among women in Jeddah

How does the war affect breast cancer quality of care? The Syrian experience.

e18724 Background: The Syrian decade-long war has severely affected the healthcare system, including almost vanishing cancer screening practices, war-destroyed medical facilities, and lack of continuous medical education. This study aims to present data on the affected breast cancer screening practices, methods of diagnosis, and stages distribution in Syria. Methods: Medical records of breast cancer patients treated at Albairouni University Hospital between 2019 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Eligible patients were women diagnosed with primary breast cancer. Exclusion criteria included male gender, females receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and incomplete charts. Data regarding the patient's age, city of residence, marital status, number of children, smoking habits, method of diagnosis, tumor size (T), lymph nodes (N), and distal metastasis (M) were collected. We used Microsoft Excel and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze data. Descriptive methodology (frequency [n], percentage) was used. Results: The number of included patients after applying the exclusion criteria was 2,367. The mean age was 51.8 (SD = 11.3). More than half of the patients (58.3%) came from outside Damascus -where the hospital is located- and its suburbs. Less than 5% of the population detected cancer by screening mammography. Only 32.4% of patients were diagnosed by a biopsy, while surgical procedures were used to diagnose 64.8% of the population. At the time of diagnosis, only 8% of patients presented with local-stage disease (stages 0 &amp; I), 73% had a regional disease (stages II &amp; III), and 19% had metastatic breast cancer (stage IV). Conclusions: Our retrospective chart review analysis is the first comprehensive review in Syria for female breast cancer patients. We found a chocking low percentage of patients diagnosed based on a screening mammogram, much higher surgical biopsies rather than a simple imaging-guided biopsy, and much lower than the national average of early-stage disease. Factors that might explain our results include lack of appropriate education, restricted access to medical facilities, and financial restraints. Our alarming findings can serve as the base for future strategies to improve breast cancer care in Syria by detecting the disease earlier and avoiding surgical diagnostic procedures.

Scientific uncertainty and perceived mammography benefits in women screened for breast cancer

Personal aversion to scientific uncertainty may influence how women perceive the benefits of mammography, a breast cancer screening practice with conflicting scientific opinions and guidelines. Such associations may even exist among women who participate in screening. We evaluated the distribution of aversion to ambiguous medical information (AA-Med), using a 6-item scale capturing the level of agreement with statements about obtaining a cancer screening test with conflicting medical recommendations in 665 women (aged 40-60years; 79.5% Hispanic) recruited during screening mammography appointments in New York City. We assessed the association of AA-Med with perceptions of benefits of mammography (breast cancer mortality reduction, worry reduction, early detection, treatment improvement) using multivariable logistic regression. Over a quarter of participants expressed negative reactions to medical ambiguity about a cancer screening test (e.g., fear, lower trust in experts), but a majority endorsed intention to undergo screening. AA-Med was higher in women who were U.S.-born, non-Hispanic black, and had marginal to adequate health literacy, but there were no differences by clinical factors or screening experiences (e.g., family history, prior breast biopsy). Women with higher AA-Med were more likely to perceive treatment benefits from mammography (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 0.99-1.90), but AA-Med was not associated with other perceived mammography benefits. Aversion to uncertainty regarding cancer screening varies by sociodemographic characteristics but has limited associations with perceived mammography benefits in women who already participate in screening.

Abstract 1941: Barriers and effective interventions to engage Latinas' participation in breast cancer clinical trials

Abstract Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer among Latina women and is the leading cause of cancer-related death among Latinas (16.6%). While The Latino population is one of the fastest-growing populations in the US, they are severely underrepresented in clinical trials. Latinos make up 17% of the population but only 1% of clinical trial participants. Of clinical trials published covering 2001-2010, Latinos’ enrollment constituted only 2.2% of accrued participants. The percentage of Latino participants narrows down when we separate by gender. The goal of this study is to examine the prevalence of breast cancer-related barriers among Latinas and to determine the extent to which these barriers might influence Latinas enrolling in breast cancer clinical trials. If language and religion are the reason Latinas enroll less in breast cancer clinical trials, then increasing the availability of translated materials and a priest of a Catholic Church advertising the breast cancer studies will increase the enrollment rate of Latinas. Semi-constructed interviews were conducted with two Latino organizations to understand current barriers Latina’s face within the medical field. Based on these findings, I conducted an intervention at Our Lady of Tepeyac Church consisting of an information booth, making an announcement regarding Research Study 9127, and having bilingual Latinas available to give out more information while helping them enroll in Research Study 9127. At the end of the church intervention, 33 Latinas were enrolled in Research Study 9127, seeing a 550% increase in Latinas participating in Research Study 9127. Latinx women remain severely underrepresented in breast cancer clinical trials, thus limiting the generalizability of cancer clinical research, but interventions across churches would lead to improvements in general cancer knowledge, breast cancer screening practices, and intentions to enroll in clinical trials. This study can inform efforts to increase clinical trial participation in Latinas by highlighting important motivators to participation specific to Latinas and informing future interventions aimed at encouraging participation in clinical trials in a culturally sensitive and effective way. Citation Format: Monica J. Padilla, Gregory Karczmar. Barriers and effective interventions to engage Latinas' participation in breast cancer clinical trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2023; Part 1 (Regular and Invited Abstracts); 2023 Apr 14-19; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2023;83(7_Suppl):Abstract nr 1941.

P060 Breast cancer knowledge and screening practices amongst female in bandung city, west java, indonesia

P060 Breast cancer knowledge and screening practices amongst female in bandung city, west java, indonesia

Breast Cancer Beliefs and Screening Practices among Syrian Refugee Women and Jordanian Women.

Despite significant declines in breast cancer (BC) incidence in the West, this disease is widespread in Jordan, where cancer detection occurs at much advanced stages. This is particularly concerning for Syrian refugee women resettled in Jordan, who are less likely to undergo cancer preventative procedures because of poor health literacy and lack of health services access. The present work assesses and compares breast cancer awareness and breast cancer screening behaviors among Syrian refugee women and Jordanian women residing close to the Syrian-Jordanian border city of Ar-Ramtha. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a validated Arabic version of the Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (BCSBQ). A total of 138 Syrian refugee women and 160 Jordanian women participated in the study. Results indicate that 93.6% of Syrian refugee women and Jordanian women ≥ 40 years of age reported never having undergone a mammogram. Syrian refugee women and Jordanian women reported low attitudes toward general health checkup (mean score for Syrian refugees 45.6 vs. 42.04 among Jordan women; p = 0.150). Barriers for BC screening were higher among Syrian refugees (mean score = 56.43) than Jordanian women (mean score = 61.99, p = 0.006). Women with higher education were more likely to report fewer barriers to screening (p = 0.027). The study documents a significant lack of BC screening awareness among Syrian refugee women and Jordanian women, indicating that future work is needed to alter current attitudes towards mammograms and early detection measures especially for Syrian refugee women and Jordanian women residing in rural areas of Jordan.

Breast Cancer Risk Stratification and Screening Practices of Women in South Kerala, India: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: The incidence of breast cancer is increasing in India, making it the most common cancer among women. Early detection of breast cancer is crucial for reducing morbidity, mortality, and improving the quality of life for patients. However, breast cancer mortality rates are higher in India compared to other parts of the world, possibly due to late-stage diagnosis. Regular screening is key to early detection, but population screening is not feasible in India due to limited resources. Therefore, high-risk screening is a more practical approach. Assessing individual risk using a breast cancer risk calculator can help identify asymptomatic women at high-risk and motivate them to undergo regular screening, leading to early detection. Aim: To assess the risk of developing breast cancer among women in Kerala using a breast cancer risk calculator and to describe their screening practices. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 1861 women aged over 30 years in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India. Personal details of the participants, major known risk factors of breast cancer, and information about breast cancer screening practices were collected using a questionnaire. Breast cancer risk stratification was performed using the Snehita breast cancer risk calculator. Results: According to the breast cancer risk calculator, 12.74% of the women were classified as high-risk and 65.18% had a normal risk of developing breast cancer. Among the participants, 82.64% stated that they had never undergone any breast cancer screening procedures. Conclusion: Despite Kerala being a state with high female literacy rate, the screening practices for breast cancer were found to be very low (17.36%). Additionally, 12.74% of the women were identified as being at high-risk of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer risk calculators can serve as a motivational tool to encourage women to undergo regular screening.

Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice Regarding Breast Cancer among Parakou University Female Students in 2021

Background: Breast cancer is a life-threatening pathology affecting women across the world. Evidence suggests deficiency of knowledge and numerous sociodemographic factors contribute to delayed medical attention seeking behavior whether initial symptoms of breast cancer go undetected. Objective: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding breast cancer among Parakou University female students in 2021. Method: This was a cross-sectional study with descriptive and analytical purposes, carried out on the campus of the University of Parakou, from June 14 to July 2, 2021. Data collection was performed through an individual online questionnaire, designed with KoBoCollect version 1.29.3. Data analysis was implemented with EPI INFO VERSION 7.1.3.3 software. Result: A total of 200 students meeting the inclusion criteria participated in this study. Among them, 20.5% had never heard about breast cancer. Non practice of breast cancer screening (breast self-examination) prevalence was 80%. Factors favoring non practice of breast cancer screening were: ethnicity, religion, not adhering to screening ideas, not committing to educating family and friends about screening. Factors promoting breast cancer screening practice were: having ever heard about breast cancer, being able to point to breast cancer symptoms, having adequate knowledge of breast cancer screening methods, having a good knowledge of the late-stage screening drawbacks. Conclusion: Some young women with high school level are still unaware of breast cancer and do not practice screening. Policymakers should consider more effective information outreach.

Screening Strategies for the Detection of Breast Cancer: Correlating Knowledge and Practice of Women in Eastern Saudi Arabia

Background and Aims: Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide. It represents 30.1% of other diagnosed female cancers as per the cancer incidence report of Saudi Arabia (2015). The highest incidence of breast cancer was observed in the eastern province region. Breast self-examination (BSE) and mammograms are helpful to detect breast cancer at the earliest. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and practices of women about breast cancer screening. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the knowledge and practices of women attending primary healthcare centers (PHC) in eastern Saudi Arabia regarding breast cancer screening. Data was collected from women who were aged 20 years and above through direct interviews using a validated questionnaire and it was analyzed using SPSS. Frequency distributions and chi-square tests were used to describe the demographic data and associate the variables respectively, with (p&lt;0.05) normality. Results: Out of 428 women, 62% were 41-60 years old, and most of them (84%) were married. Around 29% were unaware of breast cancer screening, 72% of women never did BSE, and 86% reported that they never had a mammogram. There was a significant association found between knowledge and age and education (p &lt; 0.05). A positive correlation was found between knowledge of BSE and mammogram (p &lt; 0.05). Conclusions: Even with the provision of free health services in Saudi, the practice of breast cancer screening was unsatisfactory. This alarm the focus to make awareness campaigns. The importance of early detection of breast cancer must be emphasized in every PHC centers continually.

Breast Cancer Screening: Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices among Female University Students in The Gambia

Background. Breast cancer is the second most prevalent form of cancer in The Gambia, with an incidence rate of approximately 15% and a mortality rate exceeding 50% in 2020. The all‐age prevalence stands at 11.25 per 100,000 population. In light of this, we conducted a study to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast cancer screening among female university students. Method. We conducted an institutional cross‐sectional study involving 361 randomly sampled female university students. Data collection was done using a pretested, self‐administered questionnaire. We utilized descriptive statistics to describe the prevalence and burden of breast cancer screening among the participants. Results. Our study revealed good knowledge regarding breast cancer screening among female university students, yet 82.8% had a negative attitude about the disease. More than three‐quarters (76.6%) of the respondents had never practiced any form of breast cancer screening. Notably, there was a significant association between knowledge of breast cancer screening and attitude (p = 0.027), and factors such as level of study (p = 0.041), ethnicity (p = 0.026), parity (p = 0.018), and faculty of study (p = &lt;0.001) influenced the participants’ knowledge. Conclusion. It is crucial to implement comprehensive awareness campaigns to address the negative attitude and poor screening practices among female university students regarding breast cancer. Additionally, providing free and widespread breast cancer screening services to students should be considered as a means to combat this disease.

Breast cancer knowledge and screening practices among undergraduates in a Nigerian tertiary institution, Southwest Region.

Breast cancer is the most diagnosed female malignancy in Nigeria. This study aimed to assess the knowledge and practice of breast cancer screening among female undergraduates in a tertiary institution in Southwest Nigeria. This cross-sectional study recruited 350 female undergraduates of a public university in southwest Nigeria using a multi-stage sampling method involving simple random sampling. A structured self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection. Epi info 7 was used for data analysis, level of significance was set at 5% (p<0.05). The majority, 316(90.3%) had poor knowledge of breast cancer and screening and 340(97.1%) had positive attitude towards screening. Only 185(52.9%) had done breast self-examination and 16(4.6%) had done clinical breast examination. The student's year of study was significantly associated with knowledge of breast cancer (p = 0.002) Marital status (p=0.039) and attitude towards breast cancer screening (p<0.001) were significantly associated with breast self-examination. Students in their third year were 6 (2 - 16) times more likely to have good knowledge of breast cancer (Adjusted Odds Ratio 5.87, Confidence Interval 2.17 - 15.86). Overall knowledge and practice of breast cancer screening were poor, but students' attitude towards screening was positive. Health education on breast cancer and screening is recommended.

Socioeconomic status index is an independent determinant of breast cancer screening practices: Evidence from Eastern China.

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy affecting Chinese women, and early routine screening is incredibly important for its prevention and control. This study aimed to investigate the role of socioeconomic status (SES) in female breast cancer screening practices using the composite SES index. This cross-sectional study involved 1816 women in Eastern China. Data were collected using an online self-administered questionnaire from January 2020 to May 2021. We used principal component analysis to construct the composite SES index using educational level, annual household income, and occupation. Logistic regression was used to analyze the association between the SES index and breast cancer screening utilization. Of the participants, 19.27% reported having performed breast self-examination, 12.89% reported having undergone clinical breast examination, and 3.52% reported having received mammography. The SES has a significant influence on the patronage of female breast cancer screening in Eastern China. The composite SES index was found to have a positive and significant association with breast cancer screening practices. An interaction was found between the SES index and patient characteristics, such as health awareness, marital status, and location of residence. In addition, the SES index had a positive effect on breast cancer-related knowledge. Socioeconomic inequalities existed in Eastern China and were related to breast cancer screening patronage. The composite SES index was identified as a significant determinant of breast cancer screening practices. Our results highlighted the negative impacts of socioeconomic inequities on female breast cancer screening utilization. This suggests that reducing socioeconomic inequalities in breast cancer screening requires more focused interventions and concerted outreach activities for groups with lower education levels, lower income, or lower occupational classes.

Perceived Awareness of Risk Factors of Breast Cancer, Health Beliefs and Screening Behaviours of Working Women

Background: Breast cancer is a prevalent form of cancer in women. In a majority of the cases, it is detected either during screening or after a woman identifies an abnormal lump in the breast. As a result, it has become a significant health concern. Objective: The research goal of this study was to determine the perceived awareness of risk factors, health beliefs, and screening behaviours regarding breast cancer. Materials and methods: A descriptive survey was conducted among 200 working women selected using the simple random sampling technique. The following tools were used to collect the data: i) demographic proforma (19 items); ii) structured perceived awareness scale on risk factors of breast cancer (20 items); iii) structured health belief and screening behaviour scale on breast cancer (40 items). Descriptive and inferential statistics analysed the findings. Results: The majority (97.0%) of the participants had moderate perceived awareness regarding breast cancer risk factors. The mean scores of the subdomains of health beliefs and screening behaviours were found to be high. The relationship between perceived awareness with perceived benefits (p&lt;0.001) and cues to action (p=0.006) was found to be statistically significant, whereas the relationship between perceived awareness and other subdomains was observed to be non-significant. Conclusion: High perceived barriers to breast cancer screening could cause a lower rate of breast cancer screening practices. Hence, breast cancer awareness initiatives are needed to improve women’s overall health by improving preventive and screening behaviours.

Addressing the Clinical Feasibility of Adopting Circulating miRNA for Breast Cancer Detection, Monitoring and Management with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Platforms

Detecting breast cancer (BC) at the initial stages of progression has always been regarded as a lifesaving intervention. With modern technology, extensive studies have unraveled the complexity of BC, but the current standard practice of early breast cancer screening and clinical management of cancer progression is still heavily dependent on tissue biopsies, which are invasive and limited in capturing definitive cancer signatures for more comprehensive applications to improve outcomes in BC care and treatments. In recent years, reviews and studies have shown that liquid biopsies in the form of blood, containing free circulating and exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs), have become increasingly evident as a potential minimally invasive alternative to tissue biopsy or as a complement to biomarkers in assessing and classifying BC. As such, in this review, the potential of miRNAs as the key BC signatures in liquid biopsy are addressed, including the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning platforms (ML), in capitalizing on the big data of miRNA for a more comprehensive assessment of the cancer, leading to practical clinical utility in BC management.

Breast Cancer Knowledge and Screening Practice among Women in Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the level of current knowledge regarding breast cancer in Saudi Arabia. We assessed the knowledge of breast cancer risks, the knowledge regarding the BSE and mammogram in Saudi Arabian females using a survey-based study.&#x0D; Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using a self-administered survey to assess the knowledge and practice of Saudi women toward Brest cancer examination. Collected data were analyzed using SPSS program.&#x0D; &#x0D; Results: A total number of 499 surveys were collected. The data showed that there was general lack of practice of BSE in the sample only 186 (37%) reported that they practiced regular BSE and only 16 (3%) reported that they went to the clinic for breast examination. Among all participants around 54% had poor overall knowledge of breast cancer 65% had poor knowledge regarding breast cancer risk and 93% had poor knowledge regarding clinical examination. Surprisingly, 56% had good knowledge regarding the clinical picture of breast cancer.&#x0D; Conclusion: This clearly showed that the lack of breast self-examination, mammogram and clinical examination is not a result of total lack of knowledge but due to lack of knowledge regarding risks and examination. This set of data provide a guideline for the focus and planning of future breast cancer awareness campaigns.

Potential unfulfilled [AI in Healthcare Technology

This article discusses the application of AI and machine learning/deep learning to breast cancer detection, diagnosis and screening practices, generally using image processing, anomaly detection and pattern identification methods. It touches on subjects such as: willingness of healthcare systems to adopt the technology, mammography scanning, thermographic imaging, rule-based algorithms, general admin tasks, data monitoring, data privacy, the ownership problem, scientific,clinical and regulation issues and cultural barriers.