Knowledge Levels and Health Beliefs of Turkish Young Women About Breast Cancer

Year 2024, Volume: 14 Issue: 4, 952 - 958, 29.12.2024

Funda Evcili , Esma Erdem

https://doi.org/10.33808/clinexphealthsci.1295359

Abstract

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the knowledge levels and health beliefs of young women studying at university regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE).
Methods: This descriptive study’s sample consisted of 812 female students. Data were collected using the Personal Information Form, Comprehensive Breast Cancer Knowledge Test (CBCKT) and Champion Health Belief Model Scale (CHBMS). The data were transferred to SPSS for Windows 22.0. The descriptive statistical analysis and Pearson Correlation Analysis was used to evaluate the relationships between parameters. Predictive factors associated with breast self-examination among young women were tested with multivariate logistic regression analysis. The results were evaluated bidirectionally at 95% confidence interval and significance level p<.05.
Results: The participants mean age was 20.09 (1.64) years and 12% had a family history of breast cancer. 12.1% of the participants stated that they performed BSE regularly. The mean total score of the participants in the CBCKT was 12.48(2.41); the mean scores in the subdimensions of sensitivity, caring/seriousness, health motivation, benefit perception, barrier perception, and self-efficacy/confidence of the CHBMS were 8.26(2.42); 20.80(3.21); 19.20(2.70); 16.50(3.02); 18.28(3.36); 39.92(3.40), respectively. Married young women had a 4.86 times higher likelihood of performing BSE compared to unmarried young women (AOR = 4.86, 95% CI: (2.16-10.48)). A family history of breast cancer was significantly associated with the practice of BSE. It was determined that young women with a family history of breast cancer were 3.46 times more likely to engage in BSE compared to those without a family history (AOR = 3.46, 95% CI: (1.68–9.86)). Young women who perceived their knowledge about breast cancer as sufficient were found to have a 1.86 times higher likelihood of performing BSE compared to those who did not (AOR = 1.86, 95% CI: (1.00–3.40)). Holding other factors constant, there was a 1.72 times increase in the likelihood of conducting breast self-examinations with a one-unit increase in age (AOR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.06–1.20).
Conclusion: This study found that as participants’ knowledge levels about breast cancer / BSE increased, their sensitivity, concern/seriousness, health motivation, perceived benefits, and self-efficacy/confidence also increased, while perceived barriers decreased. There is an urgent need to increase knowledge and practice of breast self-examination to prevent and detect breast cancer at its early stage.

Keywords

Breast cancer, breast self-examination, knowledge, health belief, women

References

• The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC). Breast Cancer. Accessed [20 May 2024]. https://www.iarc.who.int/faq/latest-global-cancer-data-2020
• Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomataram I, Jemal A, Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN estimates of ıncidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021; 71(3): 209-249. DOI: 10.3322/caac.21660.
• T.R. Ministry of Health Breast Cancer Prevention, Screening, Diagnosis, Treatment and Follow-up Clinical Guidelines Accessed [2 March 2023]. https://shgm.saglik.gov.tr
• Barthakur MS, Sharma MP, Chaturvedi SK, Manjunath SK. Body image and sexuality in women survivors of breast cancer in India: Qualitative findings. Indian J Palliat Care. 2017; 23(1): 13–17. DOI. 10.4103/0973-1075.197954
• Alhusban RY. Changed body image as perceived by Jordanian women undergoing breast cancer treatment. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2019; 20(3): 767–773. DOI: 10.31557/APJCP.2019.20.3.767
• Iddrisu M, Aziato L, Dedey F. Psychological and physical effects of breast cancer diagnosis and treatment on young Ghanaian women: A qualitative study. BMC Psychiatry. 2020; 20, 353. DOI: 10.1186/s12888-020-02760-4
• World Health Organization (WHO). Breast cancer. Accessed [2 March 2023]. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/breast-cancer
• American Cancer Society (ACS). Breast Cancer Early Detection and Diagnosis. Accessed [2 March 2023]. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer/screening-tests-and-early-detection.html
• Seifu W, Mekonen L. Breast self-examination practice among women in Africa: A systematic review and Meta-analysis. Arch Public Health. 2021; 79, 149. DOI: 10.1186/s13690-021-00671-8
• Sarker R, Islam MS, Moonajilin MS, Rahman M, Gesesew HA, Ward PR. Knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination practices and its barriers among university female students in Bangladesh: Findings from a cross-sectional study. PLoS One 2022; 17(6): e0270417. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0270417
• T.C. Sağlık Bakanlığı, Halk Sağlığı Genel Müdürlüğü, 4 Şubat Dünya Kanser Günü, Accessed [25 January 2024]. https://hsgm.saglik.gov.tr/tr/haberler/4-subat-duenya-kanser-guenue.html (Turkish)
• Almeshari M, Alzamil Y, Alyahyawi A, Abanomy A, Althmali O, Al-Enezi MS, C G S, Osman H, Khandaker MU. Awareness level, knowledge and attitude towards breast cancer among staff and students of Hail University, Saudi Arabia. PLoS One 2023; 18(3): e0282916. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282916
• Theeb L, Tarazi A, Al-Kasaji M, Alduraidi H. Evaluating knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward breast cancer and breast cancer screening among females in Arab countries of the Middle East: A systematic literature review. JCO 2023; 41: e18761-DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.e18761
• Albayrak A, Cengiz KN. Assessment of breast cancer awareness among female pharmacy students at a university in Turkey. BMC Med Educ. 2024; 24: 363. DOI: 10.1186/s12909-024-05353-x
• Yıldız M, Elkoca A, Gomes RF, Yıldırım MS, Yılmaz DA, Solmaz E, Dege G, Tanimowo A, Atay ME. Women’s health belief levels towards breast cancer: Example of three countries. Aegean J Obstet Gynecol. 2023; 5(1): 19-25. DOI: 10.46328/aejog.v5i1.126
• Jiraniramai S, Pinyopornpanish K, Wongpakaran N, Angkurawaranon C, Champion VL, Chitapanarux I, Jiraporncharoen W, Wongpakaran T. Association between sociodemographic factors and health beliefs related to breast cancer screening behavior among Northern Thai women: A hospital-based study. Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1): 7596. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-58155-y.
• Bak M, Chin CL, Chin J. Use of health belief model-based deep learning to understand public health beliefs in breast cancer screening from social media before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic. AMIA Annu Symp Proc. 2024 ; 280-288.
• Güçlü Demirtaş S, Gördes Aydoğdu N. The effects of low ıncome women's belief of breast cancer on mamographic making behaviors. BAUN Health Sci J. 2021; 10(3): 379-385. DOI: 10.53424/balikesirsbd.978173
• Stager JL. The comprehensive breast cancer knowledge test: Validity and reliability. J Adv Nurs. 1993; 18(7): 1133-1140. DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-2648.1993.18071133.x
• Başak ŞC. Breast cancer knowledge level in university students: A validity and reliability study of the comprehensive breast cancer knowledge test (Master's thesis). Okan University, Institute of Social Sciences, Istanbul, 2015 (Turkish)
• Champion VL. Instrument refinement for breast cancer screening behaviors. Nurs Researh. 1993; 42(3): 139-143.
• Champion VL. Revised Susuceptibility, Benefits, and Barriers Scale for Mammography Screening. Res Nurs Health 1999; 22: 341-348. DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1098-240x(199908)22:4<341:aid-nur8>3.0.co;2-p
• Champion VL. Instrument development for health belief model constructs. Adv Nurs Sci. 1984; 6(3): 73-85.
• Champion VL, Scott C. Reliability and validity of breast cancer screening belief scales in african american women. Nurs Research 1997; 331-337.
• Karayurt Ö. Adaptation of champion health belief model scale for Turkey and investigation of factors affecting the frequency of breast self examination. PhDThesis, İzmir, Ege University, 2003 (Turkish)
• Ishtiak ASM, Ahmed N, Gaffar F, Khan MAS, Yasmeen F. Knowledge, practice and associated factors of breast self-examination among female university students of Bangladesh. Heliyon 2022; 8(11):e11780. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e11780
• Manisha BK, Kaphle HP. Breast self-examination: Knowledge, practice and associated factors among 20 to 49 years aged women in Butwal sub-metropolitan, Rupandehi, Nepal. PLoS One 2023;18(6): e0286676. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0286676
• Uruntie RO, Oputa CH, Peters E, Otovwe A. Effect of educational intervention on the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination among female students at a private university in Southern Nigeria. BMC Cancer 2024; 24(1):355. DOI: 10.1186/s12885-024-12116-w
• Meilina AY, Masluroh M. The relationship of knowledge, attitudes, and family history of breast cancer to breast self examination (BSE) behavior on women. IJGHR, 2024; 6(2): 539-546. DOI: 10.37287/ijghr.v6i2.2775
• Moey SF, Mohamed NC, Lim BC. A path analytic model of health beliefs on the behavioral adoption of breast self-examination. AIMS Public Health 2020; 8(1):15-31. DOI: 10.3934/publichealth.2021002
• Mossa AK. Perceptions and knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination among young adult women in southwest Ethiopia: Application of the health belief model. PLoS One 2022;17(9):e0274935. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0274935