Breast Cancer knowledge and perceived barriers to help seeking among pre-clinical and clinical female medical students of King Edward Medical University, Lahore: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women and second most common cancer after lung cancer. The prognosis of breast cancer depends on early detection and intervention which in turn relies upon awareness. Health workers in all communities are responsible for educating the population at risk. This study evaluates the knowledge regarding breast cancer, personal judgment of confidence, perceived barriers to help seeking and breast self-examination practices among Pakistani female medical students and studies the impact of clinical training on the studied variables. Methods Descriptive cross-sectional study design using self-administered validated questionnaires (BCAM-Breast Cancer Awareness Measure designed by Cancer Research UK) was employed. Female medical students enrolled in clinical and pre-clinical classes of King Edward Medical University, Lahore were targeted and questioned regarding symptoms, risk factors and their practices regarding breast cancer. Possible barriers to seeking help were also studied. Result The mean number of symptoms correctly identified was 6.7 ± 3.2 (5.5 ± 3.2 for pre-clinical and 7.8 ± 2.9 for clinical students) and for risk factors it was 4.3 ± 2.1 (3.7 ± 2.1 for pre-clinical and 4.7 ± 2.2 for clinical students). The difference in the level of perception of two groups was found to be significant ( p < 0.001 for symptoms and p < 0.001 for risk factors). 38.7% of the subjects responded that they check their breasts rarely, 33.1% were fairly confident while 8.6% were very confident about detecting a change in their breast, 50.0% never noticed a change in their breast, and 77.4% will contact a doctor within a week or less of finding a change in their breast. Confidence about detecting a change significantly improved ( p < 0.001) after the start of clinical training. Conclusion This study suggests that clinical training may have improved knowledge of female medical students regarding breast cancer; yet the knowledge related to the symptoms and risk factors of breast cancer and frequency of breast self-examination of female medical students is less than anticipated.

Use a web-app to improve breast cancer risk factors and symptoms knowledge and adherence to healthy diet and physical activity in women without breast cancer diagnosis (Precam project)

“…Symptoms related to changes in breast appearance were the most difficult to identify by both groups. Similar results were observed by Qasim et al [ 31 ]. This may be due to information campaigns focusing on the presence of lumps and downplaying the importance of other symptoms that are nonspecific to breast cancer.…”

Awareness of self-examination of lump in the breast among married women of Karachi

“…Further-more, studies must be conducted that analyze the curriculum and clinical training of medical students in Pakistan to identify what learning experiences have greatest impact. 10 The study conducted in Ardebil revealed that both age and marital status had an impact on individuals' knowledge concerning breast self-examination (BSE). 17 Awareness about breast self-examination should be emphasized.Offering elective courses covering women's health can be bene cial for female.…”

Quanto você Sabe sobre Câncer de Mama? Avaliação do Nível de Conhecimento da População Brasileira

“…Contudo, esse valor acima de 90% não foi observado em pesquisa paquistanesa, em que apenas 62,4% acertaram a resposta. Valor que pode ser considerado baixo, visto que essa pesquisa foi realizada apenas com mulheres universitárias do 2º e 3º ano do curso de medicina 17 .…”