KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE FOR BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS AND SCREENING MODALITIES IN STAFF NURSES OF AYUB TEACHING HOSPITAL ABBOTTABAD

Authors

  • Sheraz Ahmad
  • Ahmad Nadim Qureshi
  • Sania Atta
  • Mahwish Gul
  • Muhammad Rizwan
  • Sohail Ahmad
  • Ayesha Riaz
  • Muniba Gul
  • Shafaq Zaman
  • Nita Johnny

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer modality in female worldwide. Avoiding the
risk factors can reduce its incidence and adhering to screening and early detection can reduce its
mortality. A sufficient knowledge regarding the risk factors and screening modalities is therefore
essential. We assessed the knowledge level about these parameters in our staff nurses. Methods: A
self-administered questionnaire survey was performed. Knowledge regarding the risk factors and
screening modalities were categorised into good, fair, poor and very poor categories. Results:
Knowledge regarding most of the factors was found to be fair. A few things were termed as good
knowledge like role of breast-feeding in protecting against breast cancer. Practice regarding the
screening modalities was not satisfactory. Only a few nurses had good knowledge of the risk factors
and screening modalities. Practice of the Screening modalities was also poor. Conclusion: There is a
need to improve the nursing curriculum, training at the workplace and motivate them for screening
practices. They should be encouraged to talk to their patients and their female attendants about
prevention and early detection of breast cancer.
Keywords: Breast cancer, BSE, knowledge

References

WHO: The World Health Report 1998. Life in the 21st century: A

vision for all. Geneva, World Health Organization; 1998. p.88-

Available at: www.who.int/whr/1998/en/whr98_en.pdf

Sasco AJ: Epidemiology of breast cancer: an environmental

disease? Apmis 2001;109:321-32.

Bhurgri Y, Kayani N, Faridi N, Pervez S, Usman A, Bhurgri H,

et al. Pathoepidemiology of breast cancer in Karachi '˜1995-

'. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2007;8:215-20.

Sohail S, Alam SN. Breast cancer in Pakistan -awareness and

early detection. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak 2007;17:711-2.

Sadler GR, Dhanjal SK, Shah NB, Shah RB, Ko C, Anghel M, et

al. Asian Indian women: knowledge, attitudes and behaviors

toward breast cancer early detection. Public Health Nurs

;18:357-63.

Hussain MM, Ansari AK. Late presentation of carcinoma breast

in Pakistani women. Pak Armed Forces Med J 1996;46(2):11-5.

Ali AA, Azim KM, Butt HA, Hassan J, Malik A, Qadir A, et al.

Carcinoma Breast: A dilemma for our society. Ann King Edward

Med Coll 2003;9(2):87-9.

Anderson BO, Braun S, Lim S, Smith RA, Taplin S, Thomas

DB. Early detection of breast cancer in countries with limited

resources. Breast J 2003;9(Suppl 2):S51-9.

Ahmed F, Mahmud S, Hatcher J, Khan SM. Breast cancer risk

factor knowledge among nurses in teaching hospitals of Karachi,

Pakistan: a cross-sectional study. BMC Nurs 2006;5:6.

Kumar S, Imam AM, Manzoor NF, Masood N. Knowledge,

attitude and preventive practices for breast cancer among Health

Care Professionals at Aga Khan Hospital Karachi. J Pak Med

Assoc 2009;59(7):474-8.

Parvez T, Anwar M. Knowledge, attitude and preventive

practices for breast Cancer. J Coll Physicians Surg Pak

;11:363-6.

Jaraden NK. Breast Cancer Risk Factors and breast self

examination practice among Jordanian womean. Behrain Med

Bull 2010;32(1). Available at: www.bahrainmedicalbulletin.com/

march_2010/Breast_cancer.pdf

Chong PN, Krishnan M, Hong CY, Swah TS. Knowledge and

practice of breast cancer screening amongst public health nurses

in Singapore. Singapore Med J 2002;43:509-16.

Downloads

Published

2011-09-01

How to Cite

Ahmad, S., Qureshi, A. N., Atta, S., Gul, M., Rizwan, M., Ahmad, S., … Johnny, N. (2011). KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDE AND PRACTICE FOR BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS AND SCREENING MODALITIES IN STAFF NURSES OF AYUB TEACHING HOSPITAL ABBOTTABAD. Journal of Ayub Medical College Abbottabad, 23(3), 127–129. Retrieved from https://jamc.ayubmed.edu.pk/index.php/jamc/article/view/2507