Journal of Education and Health Promotion

Knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and methods for its early detection among the primary health‑care workers in Shimla, Himachal Pradesh

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

. Vikas Fotedar
. Shailee Fotedar
. Purnima Thakur
. Siddarth Vats
. Anup Negi
. Lalit Chanderkant

Department of Public Health Dentistry, H. P. Government Dental College, Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is an increasing health problem in India. Screening for early detection
should lead to a reduction in mortality from the disease. Majority of the population, especially in rural
areas, contact health‑care system through primary health‑care workers.
AIM: To know the knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and methods for its early detection among
the primary health‑care workers in Shimla district, Himachal Pradesh.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive cross‑sectional study questionnaire study was
conducted among primary health‑care workers (both males and females) in Shimla district,
Himachal Pradesh. The data were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. The statistical
tests used were t‑test, ANOVA, and Fisher’s exact test. P = 0.05 was considered statistically
significant.
RESULTS: Out of a total of 120 patients, there were 46 males (38.3%) and 74 females (61.7%).
The mean age of the population was 48.5 ± 5.3 years, with a range of 25 and 57 years. The mean
knowledge score percent of the present population was 71.04 ± 18.3. The mean knowledge score
was higher among males (73.9 ± 19.8) as compared to females (69.2 ± 17.2). Approximately 43.3%
of the participants had very good knowledge about risk factors followed by 31.7% having excellent
knowledge, 20% having good knowledge, and 5% having poor knowledge.
CONCLUSION: The overall mean knowledge percent about breast cancers among primary
health‑care workers in this study was very good, slightly higher among males and postgraduates,
but to make it universal, reinforcement of educational programs can be planned for them.

Keywords

Breast cancer
breast self‑examination
knowledge
  1. Globocan 2012 – Home. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr/
    Default.aspx. [Last accessed on 2016 Jul 18].
    2. Ferlay J, Soerjomataram I, Dikshit R, Eser S, Mathers C, Rebelo M,
    et al. Cancer incidence and mortality worldwide: Sources,
    methods and major patterns in GLOBOCAN 2012. Int J Cancer
    2015;136:E359‑86.
    3. Gupta A, Shridhar K, Dhillon PK. A review of breast cancer
    awareness among women in India: Cancer literate or awareness
    deficit? Eur J Cancer 2015;51:2058‑66.
    4. Porter PL. Global trends in breast cancer incidence and mortality.
    Salud Publica Me×2009;51 Suppl 2:s141‑6.
    5. Babu GR, Lakshmi SB, Thiyagarajan JA. Epidemiological
    correlates of breast cancer in South India. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev
    2013;14:5077‑83.
    6. Ali I, Wani WA, Saleem K. Cancer scenario in India with future
    perspectives. Cancer Ther 2011;8:56‑70.
    7. Srinath Reddy K, Shah B, Varghese C, Ramadoss A.
    Responding to the threat of chronic diseases in India. Lancet
    2005;366:1744‑9.
    8. Thakur P, Seam RK, Gupta MK, Gupta M, Sharma M, Fotedar V,
    et al. Breast cancer risk factor evaluation in a Western Himalayan
    state: A case‑control study and comparison with the Western
    world. South Asian J Cancer 2017;6:106‑9.
    9. Chopra R. The Indian scene. J Clin Oncol 2001;19:106S‑11S.
    10. Kuraparthy S, Reddy KM, Yadagiri LA, Yutla M, Venkata PB,
    Kadainti SV, et al. Epidemiology and patterns of care for invasive
    breast carcinoma at a community hospital in Southern India.
    World J Surg Oncol 2007;5:56.
    11. Gajalakshmi CK, Shanta V, Swaminathan R, Sankaranarayanan R,
    Black RJ. A population‑based survival study on female breast
    cancer in Madras, India. Br J Cancer 1997;75:771‑5.
    12. Mittra I. Screening for breast cancer: Is it globally applicable? Nat
    Clin Pract Oncol 2008;5:60‑1.
    13. Chong PN, Krishnan M, Hong CY, Swah TS. Knowledge and
    practice of breast cancer screening amongst public health nurses
    in Singapore. Singapore Med J 2002;43:509‑16.
    14. Akhigbe AO, Omuemu VO. Knowledge, attitudes and practice
    of breast cancer screening among female health workers in a
    Nigerian urban city. BMC Cancer 2009;9:203.
    15. New Delhi; 2012. Available from: http://www.
    districtdemographicstat.com/himachal/shimla/index.aspx.
    DistrictLevelDemographicsStatistical Information2012. [Last
    accessed on 2013 Aug 17].
    16. Kottke TE, Trapp MA, Fores MM, Kelly AW, Jung SH, Novotny PJ,
    et al. Cancer screening behaviors and attitudes of women in
    Southeastern Minnesota. JAMA 1995;273:1099‑105.
    17. Lee SY, Kim MT, Kim SW, Song MS, Yoon SJ. Effect of lifetime
    lactation on breast cancer risk: A Korean women’s cohort study.
  2. Int J Cancer 2003;105:390‑3.
    18. StojadinovicA, SummersTA, EberhardtJ, CerussiA, GrundfestW,
    Peterson CM, et al. Consensus recommendations for advancing
    breast cancer: Risk identification and screening in ethnically
    diverse younger women. J Cancer 2011;2:210‑27.
    19. Diarra AS, Fakir SE, Najdi A, Traoré BM, Tachfouti N, Berraho M,
    et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of nurses working in
    basic health carenetworks in Morocco vis‑a‑vis breast cancer.
    Glob J Med Public Health 2016;5 :1-8.
    20. Ghanem S, Glaoui M, Elkhoyaali S, Mesmoudi M, Boutayeb S,
    Errihani H, et al. Knowledge of risk factors, beliefs and practices of
    female healthcare professionals towards breast cancer, Morocco.
    Pan Afr Med J 2011;10:21.
    21. Yousuf SA, Al Amoudi SM, Nicolas W, Banjar HE, Salem SM. Do
    Saudi nurses in primary health care centres have breast cancer
    knowledge to promote breast cancer awareness? Asian Pac J
    Cancer Prev 2012;13:4459‑64.
    22. Soyer MT, Ciceklioglu M, Ceber E. Breast cancer awareness and
    practice of breast self examination among primary health care
    nurses: Influencing factors and effects of an in‑service education.
    J Clin Nurs 2007;16:707‑15.
    23. Sreedharan J, Muttappallymyalil J, Venkatramana M, Thomas M.
    Breast self‑examination: Knowledge and practice among nurses
    in United Arab Emirates. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev 2010;11:651‑4.
    24. Haagensen CD. Diseases of the Breast. 3rd. Philadelphia: W.B.
    Saunders Company; 1986. p. 502.
Journal of Education and Health Promotion
Volume 9, Issue 12
December 2019
Pages 1-5

Home

Guide for Authors

Submit Manuscript

Reviewers

Contact Us