Open AccessKnowledge, attitude and practice of breast self-examination among females in medical and non-medical colleges in Qassim University
Author(s) -
Safiya K Ibnawadh,
Mashael A Alawad,
Shorouq S Alharbi,
Nada A Alduawihi,
Feda S Alkowiter,
Anfal E Alsalhy,
Ameerah A Alzahrani,
Lamia A Alenizy
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of health specialties
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2468-6360
pISSN - 2321-6298
DOI - 10.4103/jhs.jhs_137_16
Subject(s) - breast self examination , medical education , psychology , medicine , family medicine , breast cancer , cancer
Aims: The objective of this study was to investigate any difference between females in medical and non-medical colleges for (1) knowledge and attitude of breast self-examination (BSE) and (2) practice of BSE.Subjects and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Qassim University during 2014-2015. Cluster random sample method was used. The sample size consisted of 365 females. A confidential and self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data.Results: Age range of the study participants was from 18 to 55 years, with a mean of 20.3 years. Moreover, 11% of the subjects had positive family history of breast cancer. Regarding their knowledge levels about BSE, 95.8% of medical students had heard of BSE in comparison to 93.3% of non-medical students. Social media was the most commonly reported source of BSE information (50.14%). We found that 49.7% of medical students had carried out BSE previously in comparison to 35.71% of the non-medical students.Conclusions: Both medical and non-medical students showed lack of knowledge in BSE and even though their attitude towards it was positive, medical students had a better attitude towards it. Moreover, regarding the practice, the percentage of medical students who perform BSE was higher than that of non-medical students