Evaluation of impact of educational intervention on knowledge and practice regarding breast self-examination among paramedical workers in a teaching hospital Maharashtra, India

Abstract

INTRODUCTIONBreast cancer is by far the most frequent cancer among women in both developed countries and developing countries (25% of all cancers). In India, breast cancer incidence rate reported was 25.8 per lac population during 2012 and mortality rate was 12.7 per lac ranking number one killer in women.1 The American Cancer Society guidelines for early detection of breast cancer recommend yearly mammogram starting at the age of forty, clinical breast examination once in every three years for women in their twenties and thirties, and every year for women at age forty and over. ACS also recommends Breast self-examination (BSE) for women starting in their twenties. 2-4Breast self-examination is one of the basic technique for early detection of breast cancer.5 Early detection and treatment yields favorable outcome in terms of survival. The purpose of breast self-examination is to increase the self-awareness and to help the woman to detect any abnormality in appearance or feel of breast.Breast self-examination is an useful adjuvant to early case detection in many countries and probably the most acceptable and feasible approach for wide population coverage. 6Several studies have documented that health worker's knowledge and attitude is the most important factors which influence the screening programs for breast ABSTRACT Background: Breast self-examination (BSE) is an appropriate strategy for early case detection and improve survival of breast cancer and is probably the most feasible approach to wide population coverage in many developing countries. Health workers play a key role in disseminating the knowledge in community however several studies conducted in different countries documented poor knowledge among them. Hence present study was conducted to evaluate the change in knowledge level after educational intervention about BSE among paramedical workers. Methods: An interventional study was conducted among 80 paramedical workers (nurses, lab technicians and social workers) of a teaching hospital and changes in knowledge were assessed with the help of pre designed questionnaire. Data was analyzed using appropriate statistical techniques. Results: The mean score of knowledge changed from 8.55 to 12.48 after the training. Majority of the paramedical workers (73%) had poor or average knowledge about BSE and significant improvement occurred in the knowledge level after the intervention. Conclusions: The knowledge regarding BSE was poor or average among the paramedical workers and educational intervention positively changed the knowledge level among them and almost all paramedical workers desired to impart this knowledge to the community.

Impact of brief educational intervention on knowledge of cancer among community pharmacists

“…A study which was done among clinicians in Alabama, to "assessed the impact of a brief educational intervention on the knowledge and attitudes of clinicians regarding breast cancer screening," reported that clinicians knowledge and attitudes about breast cancer screening was affected positively. 30 Another study by Avachat et al 31 to evaluate the change in knowledge among paramedical staff in a teaching hospital after an educational intervention about breast self-examination also indicated a positive change in knowledge level.…”

“…This positive impact of a brief educational intervention on knowledge level of cancer has been reported in other studies involving other healthcare staff. 29,30 To the best of our knowledge, no studies among community pharmacists on the impact of a brief educational intervention has been researched. A study which was done among clinicians in Alabama, to "assessed the impact of a brief educational intervention on the knowledge and attitudes of clinicians regarding breast cancer screening," reported that clinicians knowledge and attitudes about breast cancer screening was affected positively.…”