Evaluation of Knowledge, Perception, and Risk Awareness About Breast Cancer and Its Treatment Outcome Among University of Gondar Students, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is among the most common life-threatening public health problems of global concern including Ethiopia. Knowledge and awareness about the disease will help to reduce the number of cases who present at late stages of the disease. The objective of this survey was to assess the knowledge, perception and risk awareness about breast cancer among female medical and health science students of University of Gondar, Ethiopia.Methods: A cross sectional survey was conducted from May 03 to June 01, 2017 at University of Gondar, Ethiopia. Three hundred students were proportionally selected from nine departments using simple random sampling method. Using a structured questionnaire data on risk factors, symptoms and perception about breast cancer and its management approach was collected. Data were entered to and analyzed using SPSS version 21.Results: A total of 300 students had fully completed the survey making the response rate 95.24. The participants' mean age was 21.4 years with the standard deviation (SD) of 2.13 years. The overall level of knowledge on breast cancer was low. Majority of the participants were unaware for complex risk factors such as first child after the age of 30 years (51%), early onset of menses (55.3%), and menopause after the age of 55 years (47.7%) are liked with breast cancer even though they acknowledged old age, family history, and smoking as possible risk factors for breast cancer. Pain in the breast region, change in the shape of the breast, and nipple discharge were the most frequently correctly identified symptoms of breast cancer. Majority of the study participants had also correct beliefs about breast cancer management and its outcomes. however, they had negative perception of breast cancer treatment by considering it to be a long-term and painful process. In binary logistic regression analysis department (p = 0.000) and year of study (p = 0.008) were found to be an independent predicting factors for knowledge among the study participants.Conclusions: The overall level of knowledge on breast cancer and clinical breast examination guidelines was found to be low even though majority had positive perception toward the treatment and its outcomes. Hence, intensive breast health awareness campaign, which should also stress on the importance of early detection and reporting, is necessary to improve the knowledge about breast cancer.

Knowledge of breast cancer among medical students in Syrian Private University, Syria: a cross-sectional study

“…The data showed that our students agreed that breastfeeding does not affect the incidence of BC. Similar results were noted among the medical students of Ethiopia, Pakistan, Angola, and Egypt [ 6 , 12 , 24 , 27 , 33 ]. Studies conducted in Saudi Arabia in the cities of Makkah and Taif reported that 63.0 and 80% of medical students, respectively, identified that refraining from breastfeeding may increase the incidence of BC [ 11 , 13 ].…”

“…On the other hand, other risk factors such as family history of BC are unmodifiable. Our study revealed insufficient knowledge among the responders regarding risk factors that are associated with BC, and family history was recognized by a fewer number of our students as a risk factor of BC compared with other studies [ 6 , 9 – 13 , 33 ].…”

“…Mass in the breast is the most common symptom of BC, and it is noted in around 83% of BC patients [ 36 ]. Almost all our students were aware of this symptom, and this result is significantly higher than what is reported in other studies [ 6 , 10 , 11 , 13 , 33 ]. Such a high level of knowledge may be attributed to mass media campaigns serving as an effective means of knowledge dissemination by targeting a heterogeneous audience [ 37 , 38 ].…”

“…Early detection and prevention require deep knowledge of the risk factors, signs, and symptoms of BC, and it is the responsibility of healthcare providers to educate women about these practices [ 4 , 5 ]. Unfortunately, BC awareness and the understanding of preventive practices remain poor among healthcare providers and the general public in developing countries, necessitating the need for proper awareness programs [ 6 , 7 ]. Several studies revealed poor awareness of BC among medical students, non-medical students, and female residents in developing countries with knowledge levels reported to be 61.7% in Ethiopia, 42.6 and 33.4% in Saudi Arabia, 26.2% in Iran, 11.5% in Malaysia, and 4.2% in Egypt [ 6 , 8 – 14 ].…”

“…Unfortunately, BC awareness and the understanding of preventive practices remain poor among healthcare providers and the general public in developing countries, necessitating the need for proper awareness programs [ 6 , 7 ]. Several studies revealed poor awareness of BC among medical students, non-medical students, and female residents in developing countries with knowledge levels reported to be 61.7% in Ethiopia, 42.6 and 33.4% in Saudi Arabia, 26.2% in Iran, 11.5% in Malaysia, and 4.2% in Egypt [ 6 , 8 – 14 ]. In Syria, one study that was conducted at the Syrian Private University (SPU), the same institution in which our study takes place, indicated that only 57.5% of females students who attended the faculties of medicine, pharmacy, or dentistry had adequate knowledge about the means of early detection of breast cancer [ 14 ].…”