Breast cancer awareness among female medical students of Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the breast cancer awareness levels of female students of Dokuz Eylül University Faculty of Medicine, as well knowledge of about screening methods and how this knowledge is reflected in their behavior. METHODS A descriptive study was conducted with 231 female students from different class levels. This study was conducted between January and March 2025, achieving an 86% response rate from the target sample. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of and practice in breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS 22.0 and significance level was accepted as p < 0.05. RESULTS Although 81.4% of participants stated they knew about BSE, only 57.1% applied this knowledge. The rate of students with correct knowledge of BSE frequency was 43.1%. Although 59.7% were aware of CBE, only 7.8% had undergone it. While 87.0% were familiar with mammography, only 51.2% knew the correct starting age, and just 32.8% knew the correct frequency. Knowledge increased significantly with advanced class levels (p < 0.001), but this increase was not reflected in behavior. CONCLUSION Despite relatively high level of knowledge about breast cancer screening among students, implementation remains low. This highlights a discrepancy between knowledge and practice. It is therefore recommended that practical training methods be incorporated into medical education to foster behavioral development alongside theoretical knowledge.