scholarly journals Breast Cancer Awareness and Barriers to Early Presentation in the Gaza-Strip: A Cross-Sectional Study

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Mohamedraed Elshami ◽  
Hanan Abu Kmeil ◽  
Maymona Abu-Jazar ◽  
Ibtisam Mahfouz ◽  
Dina Ashour ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Risk Factors ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Early Presentation ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Breast Cancer Awareness

Purpose Timely detection of breast cancer (BC) is important to reduce its related deaths. Hence, high awareness of its symptoms and risk factors is required. This study aimed to assess the awareness level of BC among females in Gaza. Materials and Methods A cross-sectional study was performed during September and October 2017 in Gaza, Palestine. Stratified sampling was used to recruit patients from four hospitals and seven high schools. The validated Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (BCAM) was used to assess confidence and behavior in relation to breast changes, awareness of BC symptoms and risk factors, barriers to seek medical help, and knowledge of BC screening. Women (age ≥ 18 years) visiting or admitted to any of the four hospitals, and female adolescents (age 15 to 17 years) in any of the seven schools, were recruited for face-to-face interviews to complete the BCAM. Results Of 3,055 women approached, 2,774 participants completed the BCAM questionnaire (response rate, 90.8%); 1,588 (57.2%) were adults, and 1,186 (42.8%) were adolescents. Of these, 1,781 (64.2%) rarely (or never) checked their breasts, and 909 (32.8%) were not confident to notice changes. In total, 1,675 (60.4%) were aware of the availability of BC screening programs. The overall mean ± standard deviation score for awareness of BC symptoms was 5.9 ± 2.9 of 11, and that of risk factors 7.5 ± 3.1 of 16. Feeling scared was the most reported barrier to seeking advice reported among women (n = 802; 50.2%), whereas feeling embarrassed was the most reported in adolescents (n = 745; 62.8%). Conclusion Awareness of BC symptoms, risk factors, and screening programs is suboptimal in Gaza. Educational interventions are necessary to increase public awareness of BC and to train local female breast surgeons to address barriers to early detection.

Factors influencing breast cancer awareness: a cross-sectional study in China

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 679-689
Author(s):  
Na Liu ◽  
Ping Li ◽  
Jie Wang ◽  
Ping-ping Guo ◽  
Xue-hui Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Health Information ◽  
Information Literacy ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breast Cancer Awareness ◽  
History Of ◽  
Study Participants

Aim: This study aimed to explore the factors that influence breast cancer awareness. Materials & methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted between January and April 2019 in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. Results: A total of 274 women were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Participants had a moderate level of breast cancer awareness (median = 76.50 [68.75, 84.00]). Women in the action/maintenance stages reported higher breast cancer awareness (p = 0.044). Women's breast cancer awareness was positively associated with high health information literacy level, husbands' higher educational degrees, seeing doctors after detecting abnormal breast changes and living within a short distance from the nearest hospital. Conclusion: History of screening and higher health information literacy levels are important positive factors linked to higher breast cancer awareness.

scholarly journals Knowledge Level of Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors in the Gaza Strip: A Cross-sectional Study

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamedraed Elshami ◽  
Alaa Elshami ◽  
Nabeela Alshorbassi ◽  
Mohammed Alkhatib ◽  
Iyad Ismail ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Fruits And Vegetables ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Early Presentation ◽  
Cancer Symptoms ◽  
Knowledge Of Cancer

Abstract Background In low-income settings, cancer is often diagnosed in advanced stages due to late presentation. Good public awareness of cancer signs and symptoms has a positive impact on the time patients take before they present to healthcare professionals. Therefore, this study examined public knowledge of cancer signs and symptoms as well as risk factors in Gaza. Methods This was a cross-sectional study. Participants were recruited from adult visitors (≥18 years) to governmental hospitals covering all five governorates of Gaza, and adolescent students (15 to 17 years) from ten high schools in corresponding locations. An Arabic version of the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) was completed in a face-to-face interview. It described demographic data and knowledge of: cancer prevalence, age-related risk, signs and symptoms as well as risk factors both in recall and recognition questions. Results Of 3033 participants invited, 2886 completed the CAM (response rate= 95.2%). Adult mean age ± standard deviation (SD) was 33.7±11.7 years and that of adolescents was 16.3±0.8 years. Half of the participants (n=1457, 50.5%) were adolescent (781 females; 53.6%) and 1429 (49.5%) were adult (702 females; 49.1%). About two thirds (n=1885) thought about cancer as unrelated to age. Only 196 participants (6.8%) identified colorectal cancer as the most common cancer among men. Awareness of cancer signs/symptoms was poor to fair, where ‘lump’ was most commonly recognized (n= 2227, 77.2%) and ‘change of bowel habit’ the least (n=670, 23.2%). Only 217 participants (7.5%) had a good level of recognizing risk factors with ‘smoking’ being the most identified and ‘eating less than five portions of fruits and vegetables a day’ the least. There was a higher likelihood for adults to identify most cancer signs/symptoms and risk factors than adolescents, except for recalling ‘unexplained pain’, ‘persistent cough/hoarseness’, ‘non-healing ulcer’, ‘smoking’, and ‘eating less than five portions of fruits and vegetables a day’. Conclusion Public awareness of cancer signs/symptoms and risk factors needs to improve to facilitate early presentation and diagnosis in Gaza. Combining the delivery of public campaigns with tailored education to population groups, including the youth, may increase their knowledge and maintain its impact.

scholarly journals Breast cancer awareness among women in Eastern China: a cross-sectional study

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Yuan Liu ◽  
Fei Wang ◽  
Li-Xiang Yu ◽  
Zhong-Bing Ma ◽  
Qiang Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breast Cancer Awareness

scholarly journals The Effects of Educational Level on Breast Cancer Awareness: A Cross-Sectional Study in Turkey

2012 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 295-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibel Ozkan Gurdal ◽  
Gamze Varol Saracoglu ◽  
Ebru Sen Oran ◽  
Yucel Yankol ◽  
Gursel Remzi Soybir
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Educational Level ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breast Cancer Awareness

scholarly journals Perceived barriers to seeking cancer care in the Gaza Strip: a cross-sectional study

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamedraed Elshami ◽  
Bettina Bottcher ◽  
Mohammed Alkhatib ◽  
Iyad Ismail ◽  
Khitam Abu-Nemer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Perceived Barriers ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Early Presentation ◽  
Cancer Symptoms

Abstract Background Several factors might contribute to the delay to get cancer care including poor cancer awareness and having barriers to seeking help. This study described these barriers in Gaza and their association with recalling and recognizing cancer symptoms and risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Gaza. Adult visitors (≥18 years) to the largest three governmental hospitals and adolescent students (15–17 years) from ten high schools were recruited. A translated-into-Arabic version of the validated Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) was used to collect data in face-to-face interviews. It described demographic data, barriers to seek cancer care as well as recall and recognition of cancer symptoms and risk factors. Responses were compared between adults and adolescents as well as males and females. Results Of 3033 participants approached, 2886 completed the CAM (response rate= 95.2%). Among them, 1429 (49.5%) were adult (702 females; 49.1%) and 1457 (50.5%) were adolescent (781 females; 53.6%). The mean age± standard deviation (SD) of adult and adolescent participants was 33.7±11.7 years and 16.3±0.8 years, respectively. Emotional barriers were the most common barriers with ‘feeling scared’ as the most reported barrier (n=1512, 52.4%). Females and adolescents were more likely to report ‘feeling scared’ as a barrier than males and adults, respectively. Higher recall scores for cancer symptoms were associated with lower likelihood to report ‘embarrassment’, ‘worry about wasting doctor’s time’ and ‘difficulty arranging transport’. This was also seen for recalling risk factors, where ‘embarrassment’ and all practical barriers showed significant inverse associations with higher scores. In addition, greater recognition scores of cancer risk factors were inversely associated with reporting ‘embarrassment’ and ‘feeling scared’. Conclusions The most commonly perceived barriers to seeking cancer care were ‘feeling scared’ and ‘feeling worried about what the doctor might find’, followed by practical and service barriers. Females and adolescents were more likely to report ‘fear’ as a barrier to seek medical advice. Having a higher recall of cancer symptoms and risk factors was inversely associated with reporting most barriers. To improve patient outcome, early presentation can be facilitated by targeting barriers specific to population groups.

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

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 117822342110253
Author(s):  
Zia Ullah ◽  
Muhammad Naseem Khan ◽  
Zia Ud Din ◽  
Saima Afaq
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cross Sectional Study ◽  
Warning Signs ◽  
Screening Methods ◽  
Sectional Study ◽  
Cancer Awareness ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breast Cancer Awareness ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Self Examination

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.

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