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Breast Cancer Knowledge and Screening Awareness among Women Attending Well Women Clinic

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Indian Journal of Gynecologic Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Objectives

Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death among women in Brunei with a prevalence of 1 in 16 women. Improving awareness and increasing screening practices for early detection are important aspects of breast cancer control. This study explored the knowledge on breast cancer and screening practices among women attending Well Women Clinic in Brunei.

Methods

A cross-sectional quantitative study design was carried out on 482 women attending Well Women Clinic in all 16 Maternal and Child Health Clinics of the four districts in Brunei using a structured questionnaire “Breast Cancer Awareness Measures” developed by the Cancer Research UK.

Results

Majority of the women (n = 447, 92.9%) have heard about breast cancer and 349 (72.0%) knew the warning signs of breast cancer. Most women (n = 279, 60.5%) identified lump or thicken armpit as the warning signs for breast cancer followed by discharge/bleeding nipple (n = 277, 59.7%) and lump/thicken breast (n = 254, 55.2%). Being overweight (BMI over 25) is the most identified risk factors for breast cancer by 292 women (60.6%). Only 194 women (40.2%) identified to check breast changes once a month, 165 women (34.2%) feel not at all confident in noticing the changes and majority (n = 315, 72.8%) will see doctor as immediate as within 3 days. However, 211 women (43.8%) consider not to see doctor if they noticed changes. Factors associated with the hesitance to seek medical attention identified by the women included too scared (20.5%), worry about the results (17.2%) and too embarrassed (16.8%).

Conclusions

The study revealed that the women still have insufficient knowledge and awareness on breast cancer risk factors, warning signs and screening practices. Being not confident in finding breast changes and negative perceptions such as too scared and too embarrassed to see doctor and worry about the outcome were associated with delay of early screening. There is a need to upscale early screening health promotion strategies including disseminating breast cancer awareness, improve screening practices and enhance more positive behaviours towards early screening and seeking medical attention.

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Acknowledgements

Thanks to all the participants and gatekeepers who made this study possible and to Cancer Research UK for permission to use the Breast CAM questionnaire.

Funding

The research received no specific grant from any funding agency from the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Gadong, BE1410, Negara Brunei Darussalam

    Norashidah Haji Zaini, Hanif Abdul Rahman & Khadizah H. Abdul-Mumin

  2. Department of Nursing Services, Ministry of Health, Bandar Seri Begawan, BB3910, Negara Brunei Darussalam

    Norashidah Haji Zaini & Norhalizawaty Haji Abdul Razak

  3. School of Nursing and Midwifery, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3086, Australia

    Khadizah H. Abdul-Mumin

  4. School of Nursing, University of Michigan, 400 N Ingalls St, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2003, USA

    Hanif Abdul Rahman

Authors
  1. Norashidah Haji Zaini
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  2. Norhalizawaty Haji Abdul Razak
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  3. Hanif Abdul Rahman
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  4. Khadizah H. Abdul-Mumin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hanif Abdul Rahman.

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Conflict of interest

There is no conflict of interest in conducting this research.

Ethical Approval

The study procedure was performed in accordance with the ethical principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and was approved by the IHS-MHSREC with reference number (ERN: UBD/PAPRSBIHSREC/2019/19). Participants’ consents were sought and written consent were signed upon participants’ full understanding of the research and procedures.

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Haji Zaini, N., Haji Abdul Razak, N., Abdul Rahman, H. et al. Breast Cancer Knowledge and Screening Awareness among Women Attending Well Women Clinic. Indian J Gynecol Oncolog 20, 1 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40944-021-00593-x

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