Effectiveness of an educational intervention for improving knowledge about the risk factors and signs and symptoms of breast cancer.

Abstract

Purpose: An evaluation was made of the effectiveness of an educational intervention for improving knowledge about the risk factors and signs and symptoms of breast cancer. Methods: a randomized, experimental study was carried out involving an intervention group (IG) and a non-intervention control group (CG). Knowledge about the modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors and the specific and non-specific signs and symptoms of the disease was evaluated in both groups, before and after an intervention based on the use of a web-app with administration of the MARA questionnaire. The intervention had a duration of 12 weeks. Results: A total of 289 women completed the study (IG = 101; CG = 188). The risk factors score was significantly greater in IG (4.97; standard deviation [SD] = 2.02) than in CG (4.11; SD = 2.03)(p < 0.001). The signs and symptoms was also significantly greater in IG (6.78; SD = 1.41) than in CG (6.15; SD = 1.91)(p = 0.002). Conclusions: The intervention was found to be effective in improving knowledge of both the risk factors and the signs and symptoms of breast cancer.