Beliefs and Behavior of Malaysia Undergraduate Female Students in a Public University Toward Breast Self-examination Practice

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide, including Malaysia. Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out among 262 female undergraduate students in University Putra Malaysia using a validated questionnaire which was developed for this study. Results: The mean age of respondents was 22±2.3 years. Most of them were single (83.1%), Malay (42.3%) and 20.7% reported having a family history of breast cancer. Eighty-seven (36.7%) claimed they had practiced BSE. Motivation and self-efficacy of the respondents who performed BSE were significantly higher compared with women who did not (p<0.05).There was no association between BSE practice and demographic details (p<0.05). Logistic regression analysis indicated that women who perceived greater motivation (OR=1.089, 95%CI: 1.016-1.168) and had higher confidence of BSE (OR=1.076, 95%CI: 1.028-1.126) were more likely to perform the screening. Conclusions: The findings show that Malaysian young female's perception regarding breast cancer and the practice of BSE is low. Targeted education should be implemented to improve early detection of breast cancer.

Predictors Affecting Breast Self-Examination Practice among Turkish Women

“…In contrast to our finding, there are some studies indicate that there are no significant relationship between having a family member diagnosed with BC or other cancer type and BSE performance (Gucuk and Uyeturk, 2013). Another study supported this lack of significant association between family history of breast cancer, and BSE practices were carried out among Malaysian undergraduate female students in a public university (Akhtari-Zavare et al, 2013). Having family members diagnosed with breast diseases could have empowered participants' awareness about BSE performance and increased sensitiveness towards the risk development of BC.…”

Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Breast Self-Examination Practice among Iranian Women in Hamedan, Iran

“…In the present study, majority of participants (97%) reported that they had hear about breast cancer but only 26% of them performed BSE. These findings are support by Akhtari-Zavare et al (2013) that reported 97% of the participants heard about BSE, only 36.7% stated that they performed BSE and among those who practice BSE, most of them practice BSE occasionally (50, 57.5%). Similarly, in a study from Turkey reported less than half of the respondents participated BSE and a few are doing BSE regularly (Andsoy and Gul, 2014).…”

Breast Cancer Awareness among Turkish Nursing Students

“…Similar to the finding of this study, Alsaif (2004) has reported that the majority of nursing students had performed BSE. In the previous studies it has reported that the incidence rate of female students performed BSE is low (Akhtari-Zavare et al, 2013;Al-Sharbatti et al, 2013;Che et al, 2014). Taking into consideration the fact that various factors play a role in urging individuals to have performed BSE like cultural beliefs, perception of health-disease, support of the family and social environment, belief in the importance of the applications which are required for early diagnosis of the disease (Nahcivan and Secginli, 2003;Cam and Gumus, 2006) we are pleased to see that the nursing students who are the subjects of this study had a high rate of having BSE done since this reflect that they have a high level of awareness.…”