Breast Examination Research Articles

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Breast Self Examination in Women of Okrika Kalio-Ama Community Okrika Local Government Area of Rivers State

Background: Breast self-examination is one of the non-invasive methods of screening in which a woman looks at her breast for any unusual changes like lumps, distortions, or swellings. Despite the impact of breast self-examination in detecting breast cancer earlier, the vast majority of cases still present with an advanced stage. Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer among women, particularly in low income countries. Objective: This study sought to evaluate breast self-examination habits and knowledge among women in their reproductive age in the Kalio-Ama village in Okrika LGA, Rivers State. Methods: Women residing in the study area were the subjects of a cross-sectional study. A straightforward random selection technique was employed to choose 250 individuals. Questionnaires given by interviewers were utilized to gather data. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 23. Results: From the total of 250 women participated in the study with a response rate of 100%. Of these, 250 (100%) of the respondents have heard of breast self-examination, 25 (10%) heard about it at home, 180 (72%) heard about it at the health facility while 45 (18%) heard on social media, 190 (76%) said self-examination of the breast is essential for early detection of breast cancer, 180 (72%) had knowledge and skills of BSE, 190 (76%) agreed that BSE will lead to early detection of breast cancer, 250 (100) of the respondents have practiced breast self-examination, 160 (64%) practice BSE on monthly bases while 90 (36%) practice BSE when necessary, 160 (64%) will continue the practice of BSE, 160 (64%) derive pleasure in carrying out BSE. There was a significant relationship (p-value<0.05) between the following factors (health motivation, higher perceived self-efficacy of breast self-examination, marital status, family history of breast cancer and age) and execution of BSE. Conclusion: The findings of this research showed that there is adequate sufficient understanding and experience in BSE among women of childbearing age in the study area and factors such as health motivation, higher perceived self-efficacy of breast self-examination, marital status, family history of breast cancer and age impact of the practice of BSE among women in Rivers State.

Understanding Preventive Health Behavior: A Mixed-Methods Study to Explore Factors Influencing the Practice of Breast Self-Examination Among Indian Medical Students.

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). 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. 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 tobe acting as barriers for BSE, one being the absence of fear of ever getting BC and the other fear of detecting a lump. 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.

Improving the Knowledge, Skill, and Attitudes of Medical Faculty Students on the Breast Cancer

Objective: In this study, it was aimed for third-year medical school students to improve their knowledge, examination skills and attitudes about breast cancer, and to experience the skills of taking a disease history, communicating effectively and giving bad news. Method: The present study was carried out with 406 3rd-year medical faculty students from Akdeniz University and a semi-experimental method was employed. The content of implementation consists of improving the students’ skills in receiving disease history from the patient and “clinical breast examination” on breast model, as well as informing the patient about the examination findings. Before the application, all students were given theoretical information about the subject and practiced with a learning guide on clinical breast examination. The pretest-posttest results of surveys received from the participating students and the standardized patient practice feedback form were analyzed. Result: Examining the surveys conducted before and after the implementation with 406 students, it was found that the students learned what the risk factors related with breast cancer are and they could question them while receiving the patient history (p

Act or Wait? Presentation Delay in Symptomatic Breast Cancer in China

Background In Western countries, factors contributing to breast cancer presentation delay have been identified, but little is known about presentation delay in China, where culture and healthcare systems are quite different. Objective To describe the delay interval among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients in China and to identify factors influencing delay, including the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods Using a cross-sectional design, we recruited 154 participants within 3 months of pathological diagnosis of breast cancer. Data were collected using standardized scales and open-ended questions. Results We found 44.8% of participants delayed ≥1 month, and 24.7% delayed ≥3 months before presentation, after self-discovery of symptoms. Logistic regression analysis showed that factors associated with longer delay (≥1 month) included preferring female physicians for breast examination, fewer negative emotions (afraid, anxious, distressed) regarding breast symptoms, more competing priorities, believing folk therapy can help treat lumps, and visiting a secondary or tertiary hospital instead of primary healthcare providers (P < .05 for all). Interaction tests showed perceived seriousness of symptoms significantly predicted delay of ≥1 month only when perceived healthcare access or trust in physicians was low. Patients (14%) reported delaying due to fear of COVID-19 infection and inability to leave home. Conclusions Presentation delays were substantial and multilevel barriers to timely presentation were identified, which would be expected to contribute to later-stage cancer at diagnosis. Implications for practice Findings suggest that nursing interventions and improved health policies are urgently needed in China, including breast cancer education to increase awareness.

ROLE OF ULTRASONOGRAPHY IN RESPONSE ASSESSMENT FOLLOWING NEOADJUVANT CHEMOTHERAPY IN LOCALLY ADVANCED BREAST CARCINOMA: EXPERIENCE FROM A TERTIARY CARE CENTER

Objective: Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) has a pivotal role in the treatment of locally advanced breast carcinoma (LABC). In this study, we assess the efficiency of ultrasound in the response assessment of NACT in patients with LABC using RECIST criteria and its correlation to the final histopathological report. Methods: 40 patients with LABC underwent clinical examination and ultrasonography (USG) of the bilateral breast and axilla before starting NACT. After receiving three cycles of NACT, a repeat USG and clinical examination were done to assess the response to chemotherapy. Patients with responsive disease underwent radical surgery, and we correlate the findings of histopathological examination (HPE) with those of post-NACT USG findings. Results: After three cycles of NACT, clinical examination showed a complete response in 15 (37.5%) patients and a partial response in 21 (52.5%) patients. While USG detected a complete response in 8 (20%) patients and a partial response in 28 (70%) patients, seven patients, in whom clinical examination did not find any disease, were detected by USG. HPE showed a complete pathological response in 5 specimens, and in the rest of 31 cases, HPE revealed a residual tumor. USG did not miss any of the pCR cases but overestimated CR cases by 9% (3 patients). On the other hand, all partial response diagnoses by USG were acknowledged by HPE. Conclusion: To conclude, it can be said that USG can be used as an effective radiological tool for response assessment and subsequent treatment decisions, especially in places where there is a lack of infrastructure and affordability.

Knowledge, Attitudes and practice of Breast Self-Examination among Jordanian Women

Knowledge, Attitudes and practice of Breast Self-Examination among Jordanian Women

A Community Directed Interventional Approach to Promote Breast Self-Examination Through BEHENA Among Women Residing in Rural Villages of Hingna, Nagpur District

Introduction: The practice of breast self-examination (BSE) does not adopt a community-directed approach, and hence lack the influence of community dynamics. Community-directed strategy to promote BSE through Breast Examination Health Education Network Advocator (BEHENA) acknowledges the impact of collective support. Objectives: To increase the knowledge and empower women aged ≥20 years with the help of BEHENA in correctly performing BSE and to identify the perception and challenges encountered by BEHENA in promoting BSE. Methods: A mixed-methods study design will be employed, wherein in the first phase, local women satisfying eligibility criteria will be selected as BEHENA and trained in BSE. In the second phase, these BEHENA workers will sensitize and train the study participants in BSE. In the third phase, the participants will be periodically monitored to monitor BSE sustenance practice. Finally, focus group discussions will be conducted to identify their perceptions and challenges encountered in promoting BSE. Results: An improvement in awareness levels and empowerment of rural women with the skills necessary to perform accurate and effective BSE. Conclusion: Upon the completion of the project, the best practices and lessons learned during the entire duration of implementation will be documented. The findings of the study will be shared with all the concerned stakeholders.

The role of obesity in the clinicopathologic variables and treatment of early stage breast cancer.

e12555 Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the second most common cancer among women in the United States. Studies have found obesity to be a key risk factor for BC, in which obese patients have higher recurrence and mortality. With 40% of the United State population being obese, we studied the differences in clinicopathological variables and treatment of normal-weight (NW) and obese patients with BC in a community-based cancer center within Florida. Methods: In this retrospective study, 535 patients with non-metastatic breast cancer (NMBC) diagnosed between January 1st, 2015 and December 31st, 2021 were identified. A Two Proportion Z test was done to evaluate the association between body mass index (BMI) groups of NW (BMI <25) and obese (BMI >30) patients amongst several independent variables. Variables included are histology, grade, estrogen and progesterone receptor status (ER/PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, chemotherapy, and surgical modality. Results: Results demonstrated that only Grade 2 histology was statistically more prevalent in NW vs obese patients (p < 0.01). 218 patients underwent mastectomy with 54% in the obese BMI. 317 patients were treated with lumpectomy with 65% in the obese BMI. Of the 211 NW patients, 97% were HER2 negative or low compared to 96% in the obese group. Only 3% and 4% of patients were HER2 positive in NW and obese groups, respectively. Of the obese patients, 40% were treated with neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy compared to 33% of NW patients (p=0.05). Factors such as mean age, smoking status and other demographic information were not statistically different between the groups. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that obese NMBC patients required chemotherapy more often than NW patients and that histologic characteristics cannot explain this difference in treatment. Factors such as stage at diagnosis or BC prognostic scores may contribute to the increased use of chemotherapy in obese patients. A limitation of this study is that the stage of disease at diagnosis was not abstracted, as a new staging system for BC was implemented in 2018. Furthermore, studies have suggested that, in obese patients, difficulty in identification of a mass in clinical or self -breast exam and poor compliance with screening guidelines may delay diagnosis of BC at an earlier stage. Obesity has many negative health effects, and with the increased use of novel weight loss medications, it will be important in the future to study the impact this may have on breast cancer development, histopathologic features, and treatment of patients with breast cancer. [Table: see text]

Perceptions and Behaviors Regarding Early Screening and Breast-Related Complaints Among Saudi Women.

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 aimsto investigate attitudes and behaviorsregardingearly screeningand self-examination ofbreast cancerin 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.

Assessment of breast cancer awareness and detection of asymptomatic cases in Ngaoundere, Adamawa region of Cameroon

IntroductionIn Cameroon and most African countries, breast cancer (BC) is mainly diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to worse prognosis and disease consequences. This is partly due to the delayed presentation of patients, which constitutes a significant barrier to the effective management of the disease. The aim of this descriptive, cross-sectional study is to identify the level of awareness of breast cancer and screening practice among women and health professionals in the city of Ngaoundere, Cameroon. MethodsWomen and medical personnel were randomly recruited in two health institutions in the Adamawa region, Cameroon: the Ngaoundere Regional Hospital and the Ngaoundere Protestant Hospital. Two different questionnaires were prepared. The first was to collect sociodemographic data and assess participants' awareness of BC and related symptoms. The second was to collect information from the recommended screening methods for early detection of cases, including the frequency of screening practice among women and the daily practice of medical personnel. ResultsOut of the women surveyed, 88.05 % have heard of breast cancer, but the majority were unaware of its clinical signs (47.1 %) and the means of treatment (22 %). In the studied population, 66.4 % were aware of the screening, but the practice was very low, as only 1.1 % of women had ever undergone screening by mammography and only 6 % often practiced breast self-examination (BSE). The levels of screening knowledge and practice were significantly associated with the level of education and employment status (P = 0.0001). In the group of 94 health personnel surveyed, 68.1 % had no knowledge of breast cancer screening methods, and only 30 % performed breast cancer screening in their daily practice. The practice of BSE during the study allowed a detection of 2 % of screened women with some suspicious clinical signs. ConclusionThis study revealed a lack of knowledge about BC and its screening methods and practice among women and health personnel in Ngaoundere. This lack of knowledge constitutes a significant barrier to early diagnosis of BC. There is a need to raise awareness and provide education and information about BC screening.

Effect of a learning-based approach using the echo-signals obtained by a single-unit transducer on detection of breast tumors.

1566 Background: Breast cancer mortalities in the less developed countries are predicted to increase over the next decades mainly due to the low utilization rates of breast cancer screening programs. Additionally, studies have shown that the sensitivity and accuracy of breast self-examination in women are suboptimal. Therefore, it is important to develop a novel and affordable technology that can accurately detect small breast tumors in women. We have developed a deep learning-based echo- signal processing system that can detect breast tumors with high sensitivity and accuracy by merely obtaining ego-motion estimated echo-signals generated by a single-unit piezoelectric transducer system. Methods: We have prospectively collected echo-signals using a single-unit piezoelectric transducer system in 200 patients with breast tumors who underwent curative surgery at the Seoul National University Hospital and SMG-SNU Boramae Medical Center between Oct 2022 and Feb 2024. The data from the first 131 cases was used for the training and testing of the deep learning model with the ratio of 8:2, and the subsequent data from 69 cases was used for the external validation. We used ImageNet pre-trained ResNet50 model to train the deep learning model and adopted various data augmentation methods for model robustness. Five nested cross-validation was used to ensure the generalization performance. Results: The median age of the enrolled patients was 55 (IOR, 47-63) and 65 patients (32.5%) had non-palpable breast tumors. Nearly half of the patients (n=93, 46.5%) had tumors smaller than 2.0 cm in the largest dimension. Our deep learning algorithm showed outstanding performance with the area under the curve (AUC) of 0.914±0.022 and 0.964±0.011 for the image- and region-level, respectively, in the training and testing set (n=131). In the external validation set (n=69), the model demonstrated an AUC of 0.846±0.012 and 0.932±0.009 for the image- and region-level, respectively. As shown (Table), the accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were substantially improved for the region-level analysis when compared with those of the image-level analysis. Conclusions: Using a prospectively collected data from 200 patients, we developed a highly accurate and robust deep learning model to detect breast tumors in women by processing echo-signals obtained by a single-unit piezoelectric transducer system. Our data indicate that deep learning approach based on low-volume echo signal can lead to a novel and affordable breast tumor screening strategy that can improve early breast cancer detection.[Table: see text]

Evaluating the utility of routine survivorship exams in breast cancer: Modality of detection of recurrence in a prospective cohort study.

1629 Background: National Comprehensive Cancer Network surveillance guidelines for invasive breast cancer recommend a history and physical exam every 3-12 months for the first 5 years, followed by annually, and mammography every 12 months. However, frequent in-office visits create time toxicity for breast cancer survivors, may have low utility in recurrence detection, and can create false reassurance. This study evaluates the modality of breast cancer recurrence in an integrated health system with access to primary and specialty care. Methods: We investigated mode of detection of recurrent breast cancer in the Pathways Study, a prospective cohort study of adult women diagnosed with and treated for invasive breast cancer in Kaiser Permanente Northern California, with enrollment from 2006 to 2013, and follow-up through December 2021. In this analysis, we included 4,431 women diagnosed at Stages I-III. Cohort members were followed for recurrences, deaths, and other outcomes. Of primary interest was modality of detection of recurrence, categorized as patient-driven symptoms, surveillance mammogram, diagnostic testing (i.e., other surveillance imaging for recurrence such as PET CT or MRI), routine clinical breast exam, or incidental finding. Results: A total of 617 (13.9%) women were identified as having breast cancer recurrence. Patients with recurrence shared similar demographic characteristics to those without recurrence. The recurrence population had median age of 59.2 years, BMI of 28.2 kg/m2, and racial/ethnic composition of 63% white,13% Hispanic,12% Asian, and 10% black. The median time from diagnosis to recurrence was 4 years. Seventy percent of recurrences were found to have distant metastatic disease, of which only 6.7% had concurrent local nodal and/or breast involvement. For those without metastases, 17.7% had recurrence localized in the ipsilateral breast, 2.8% in both the breast and locoregional nodes, and 9.3% only in locoregional nodes. Most recurrences were detected by patient driven symptoms (69.4%). Among the total cases, 8.1% of patients were diagnosed by routine mammogram, 10.9% with diagnostic testing and 4.5% by incidental finding. Recurrences in 6.8% of patients were detected by routine physician exam. Overall survival for those with recurrence was 31.1% and most deaths were attributed to breast cancer (89%). Conclusions: Our study, the largest investigation of breast cancer recurrence modality of detection in a US community oncology setting with comprehensive care, revealed the majority of recurrences were identified through patient self-detection with only 6.8% detected by physician exam. Most recurrences were distant, underscoring the need for alternative screening modalities to detect metastatic recurrences earlier, especially in the context of emerging treatments and improved survival rates for oligometastatic disease.

The role of self-examination in the early diagnosis of breast cancer: routine or real opportunities?

Approximately 90% of breast tumors are detected by women themselves, but about 50% of them already have significant sizes and metastases in the lymph nodes at the time of detection. Breast self-examination is an effective means of detecting cancer in its early stages, especially among women who regularly perform it. The objective: to determine the level of awareness of Ukrainian women about the role of breast self-examination in the early diagnosis of breast cancer.Materials and methods. In order to realize the set goal, a voluntary internet survey of 508 women aged 18 to 65 was conducted in the period from December 20, 2022 to April 20, 2023, based on a previously prepared questionnaire. The previously compiled questionnaire contained 27 questions, which are divided into 6 sections.The surveyed women are divided into two groups by profession:I group – 206 women with medical education;II group – 302 women without medical education.During the survey female respondents independently made a decision to refuse to answer certain questions, which was later taken into account during the statistical processing of the obtained results.Results. During the survey, almost all the women of the studied groups stated that they were aware of the high incidence of breast cancer among Ukrainian women, the extreme difficulty of treatment and the fatal consequences of its late diagnosis. However, 132 (64.08%) female respondents of the 1st group and 243 (80.46%) female respondents of the 2nd group were confident in the impossibility of contracting breast cancer (p<0.05). Thus, women who voluntarily participated in the survey are from the category of the most active and informed, but with unfounded confidence in their absolute safety regarding breast cancer.Conclusions. As the research shows, the vast majority of women consider themselves to be sufficiently informed about breast cancer, however, existing unfounded confidence in the impossibility of getting the disease reduces their cancer bias, which is significantly higher among women of non-medical professions. Social networks and the Internet remain the main source of information about breast cancer and methods of self-monitoring of the condition of the mammary glands. The majority of women are aware of the presence of risk factors for precancerous diseases and breast cancer, however, most of them have delayed the debut of self-examination of the mammary glands, perform it irregularly and do not follow the rules of its conduct, which significantly reduces its diagnostic and prognostic value. Trusted family doctors do not conduct an annual clinical examination of the mammary glands during scheduled visits of women, which significantly reduces the effectiveness of screening programs in women of all age groups. From our point of view, self-examination, as part of breast cancer screening, does not play a leading role in the diagnosis of this disease, but instills in women an urgent need to constantly worry about their health.

Prevention of stunting with nutrition and reproductive health education of adolescents in west Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia

The problem of stunting in Indonesia is a serious threat that requires appropriate handling. Basic Health Research data in 2018 shows that stunting cases in Indonesia are still relatively high, reaching 30.8%. Behavior change is one of the pillars of efforts to deal with malnutrition and stunting. Adolescent reproductive health is defined as a healthy condition in the system, function, and process of adolescent reproduction physically, mentally, and socio-culturally. The Community Service activities that will be carried out are a Community Partnership Program scheme focusing on service in the health sector which focuses on adolescent reproductive health. The targets of this activity are teachers and students of 1st State Senior High School, Gunungsari, Lombok, West of Nusa Tenggara. This Community Service aims to increase knowledge and implementation regarding strengthening character and leadership spirit and using technology wisely, increasing knowledge and skills about motor activities through the socialization of sports movements, anthropometric measurements related to adolescent reproductive readiness, and breast self-examination. The methods used are seminars, focus group discussions, and training.

PREDICTING SELF-ASSESSED HEALTH STATUS IN WOMEN: WHAT COUNTS FOR GERMAN MIDWIVES AND MEDICAL OFFICE ASSISTANTS?

Previous studies on women's work and health have tended to summarize women's occupations in broad categories and ignore job-specific workload. We compared occupational characteristics, burnout, health behaviour, and predictors of subjective health status between German midwives and medical office assistants (MOAs). We conducted a cross- sectional survey using a standardized questionnaire with items addressing aspects of the occupational biography, job characteristics, unpaid work, social support, gender role orientation, and health status and behaviour. Burnout was measured using the Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI, Maslach and Jackson 1986). Altogether 386 questionnaires for midwives and 552 questionnaires for MOAs were sent out (response rates 60.4% and 44.1% respectively). Chi-square- and Mann-Whitney-U-tests and multiple regression models were conducted. Significant group differences were found regarding, for example, satisfaction with salary and control. More midwives than MOAs would choose their profession again (p<0.001). The level of burnout was medium for MOAs. Midwives had medium levels of burnout on two subscales and low levels on one subscale of the MBI. Health behaviours such as smoking, alcohol consumption and exercise did not differ between the occupations. Midwives conducted breast self-examination and ate whole-wheat products more often, whereas MOAs utilized GP and cancer checkups more frequently and consumed more medication. Satisfaction with salary and overtime hours predicted burnout in both occupations. Burnout and smoking were the only overlapping predictors of the health status of midwives and MOAs. Further studies should consider differences between female-dominated occupations when designing appropriate studies on women's health. Increases in salary and reductions in overtime hours may be appropriate interventions for health promotion in these occupations.

Assessing breast self-examination knowledge and practices among women in Iraq: A cross-sectional study.

The present study aims to shed light on the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination with breast cancer (BC) among female patients in the oncology department of Baghdad Medical City. This cross-sectional study involved 100 female participants at the Oncology Teaching Hospital in Baghdad Medical City between June 15 and October 15, 2022. Using convenient sampling, the study targeted females aged 30-75, recently or previously diagnosed with BC, admitted for treatment and follow-ups. Regarding the assessment of knowledge, among the surveyed patients, 71 are aware of breast self-examination (BSE), primarily through social media (42 patients). The study also explores the link between BSE and education levels. While Pearson's chi-square shows no significance (0.107), the likelihood ratio suggests a significant association (0.041). Regarding the analysis of attitudes, the study assessment for the reasons for compliance showed that 19 patients cite medical reasons, and 48 patients attribute noncompliance to a lack of knowledge of how to perform BSE. Regarding the examination of practice, high statistical significance is evident in both Pearson'schi-square (0.000) and likelihood ratio (0.000) tests, emphasizing the substantial relationship between the post-diagnosis initiation timing of BSE and its correct execution. Additionally, a statistically significant association exists between performing BSE correctly and discovering BC(p = 0.000). Regarding the assessment of knowledge, our study found high awareness of BSE within the population, primarily through social media and health organizations. Regarding the analysis of attitudes, a notable proportion refrained from practicing BSE, primarily due to a perceived lack of knowledge about the methods. Regarding the examination of practice, the observed significant associations between performing BSE correctly, discovering BC, and the frequency of examinations underscore the pivotal role of consistent and accurate BSE in early detection.

Perceived barriers and factors influencing uptake of breast cancer screening among women: a population-based cross-sectional study

Breast cancer (BC) screening plays a major role in the prevention of BC through early detection and timely treatment. This study aims to determine the level of uptake of BC screening and associated factors. A community-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted in Dodoma City, Tanzania from July to December 2020. The study included women aged 8 years and above without a known history of breast cancer. Multivariable logistic regression was used to determine the socio-demographic factors associated with BC screening. P value < 0.05 was considered significant. A total of 354 study participants were included in the present study. The mean age of participants was 31.0 ± 11.8 years. The majority of study participants (67.5%, n = 239) were aware of BC screening. However, only (35.3%, n = 125) reported to have ever practised BC screening. Breast self-examination was the most (16.4%, n = 58) frequently used method for BC screening among study participants. Lack of knowledge of all methods of BC screening was the barrier that was perceived by the vast majority (60.2%, n = 213) of the study participants. Having low family income was the only predictor of failure to practice BC screening. In this study, most of the women were aware of BC, however, few of them had undergone breast cancer (BC) screening at the time of the interview. The study also found that the main barrier to BC screening was the lack of knowledge about BC among the study participants. Immediate measures are necessary to increase women's awareness of BC. Such as community sensitization on the importance of screening, can help improve the uptake of BC screening and the early detection of BC.

Breast Cancer Education and Empowerment in Ethiopia: Evaluating Community-Based Cancer Prevention Efforts Using the RE-AIM Framework.

Cancer prevention challenges in Ethiopia include limited community awareness and low uptake of screening, which are in part driven by a lack of culturally and linguistically relevant cancer education appropriate for the diverse indigenous communities of this never-colonized nation. In 2022, a comprehensive multi-media breast cancer (BC) awareness campaign was implemented, featuring local cancer experts and survivors, with community-based screening events in the towns of Adama and Mojo. The RE-AIM framework was used to evaluate and describe its reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance. Educational pamphlets, videos, social media posts, and interviews were distributed in person and through local and national media networks, reaching tens of millions of people and resulting in 525 individuals screened, with one diagnosis of early-stage cancer. During the free screening events, an interview-administered survey of BC knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices was conducted to inform future cancer education for this population. Among 287 survey respondents, about half correctly identified swelling (46%) or changing nipples/discharge (48.4%) as signs of BC. Maintenance challenges include the lack of a national screening program. Educational resources and a mobile app, translated into the local language, encourage continued patient empowerment to perform breast self-exams. In the absence of established BC prevention programs, "pop-up" mobile screening events can be effective for mobilizing communities to get screened. The paper highlights challenges and lessons gleaned from this community-based BC awareness campaign and screening event to inform future cancer education initiatives in Ethiopia and similar resource-limited settings.

Influence of variables on breast self-examination: Potential barrier or enhancement of breast cancer prevention.

Breast self-examination (BSE) is an important tool for early detection of breast cancer and can contribute to increased awareness and familiarity with breast tissue. This study aimed to review factors that influenced BSE in preventing breast cancer. In the initial stage of searching for journal articles, 186 journals were obtained, then screening was carried out within a time span of 2019-2024 and using Indonesian and English 54 journals. Of the 12 journals reviewed, the results showed that 4 journals reviewed had conducted pre and post-BSE practices, and 8 journal reviews conducted BSE practices conducted by students and health workers. Several factors play an important role in implementing BSE, namely age, knowledge, history of exposure to information, family history, ethnicity, and attitude. Overall, the study shows that the need to create awareness and educate women, especially rural women, on the importance of BSE as a preventive measure for breast cancer is paramount. Factors influencing the implementation of BSE can be a barrier or an enhancement in breast cancer prevention.

Early detection of self-breast examination using smartphone breast application.

Breast self-examination (BSE) is a screening method that can help empower, raise awareness, and detect breast abnormalities in women. The use of smartphone applications for breast cancer early detection is able to overcome some of these barriers. This study aimed to conduct a systematic review to assess the effectiveness of the effect of using smartphone application-based technology on breast cancer. Google Scholar, PubMed, Proquest, and ScienceDirect were searched for "breast self-examination" and "smartphone application" literature. This literature's study designs were quasi-experimental, prospective cohort, qualitative, and systematic review. The study contained five unique research projects with 828 varied participants. The use of smartphones was seen to have advantages in terms of increased knowledge, perceived vulnerability, barriers to breast self-examination (BSE), self-efficacy, health motivation, and BSE practices. The utilization of smartphone apps related to BSE is shown through the availability, accessibility, and focus of information and is in line with the Health Belief Model (HBM).