Background and Objective: Breast cancer remains one of the top leading morbidity and mortality among women within the country and around the world. Breast self-examination has been considered as a safe and easy to perform screening procedure to detect breast lumps and swelling. This study was conducted to determine knowledge on breast cancer and breast self-examination among public-school teachers. Methodology: A cross-sectional design was employed involving 348 professional teachers in Aurora, Philippines in April 2019. Self-report questionnaire derived from literatures was used to generate participants' knowledge on breast cancer and breast self-examination. Descriptive statistics like frequency, percentages and averages were used in data analysis. Results: Majority of the participants are females (83.3%) whose age is between 31-40 years old (37.9%). Three hundred twenty-seven (94%) participants have knowledge on breast cancer while two hundred ninety four (84.48%) of them have knowledge on breast self-examination. Conclusion Professional teachers have knowledge on breast cancer and breast self-examination however, health care providers and concerned health agencies need to continue and enhance comprehensive health education about breast cancer and breast self-examination to teachers. It is essential that awareness program about these need to be integrated to teacher's training programs or professional development activities.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Health Education

OBJECTIVES: In women, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the leading cause of cancer death. Screening tests are the basis for early diagnosis. In Iranian women, the mortality rate of breast cancer is high due to insufficient screening examinations and delayed visits for care. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the factors affecting breast self-examinations among Iranian women employed in medical careers. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 501 women working in the medical professions at Hamadan University of Medical Sciences in western Iran in 2018. The subjects were selected by stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a researcher-developed, self-report questionnaire that contained demographic information and questions based on protection motivation theory and social support theory. Descriptive data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 23 and model fitting with PLS version 2. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 37.1±8.3 years, and most of the women (80.4%) were married. Most women had a bachelor's degree (67.5%). The findings of this study showed that the coping appraisal construct was a predictor of protection motivation (β=0.380, p<0.05), and protection motivation (β=0.604, p<0.05) was a predictor of breast self-examination behavior. Additionally, social support theory (β=0.202, p<0.05) had a significant positive effect on breast self-examination behavior. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of practicing self-examinations among women employees in the medical sector was low; considering the influence of social support as a factor promoting screening, it is necessary to pay attention to influential people in women's lives when designing educational interventions.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Breast ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Delivery of Health Care ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Motivation ; Self-Examination ; Statistics as Topic

BACKGROUND: An increase of access to knowledge about early detection techniques of breast cancer can reduce this mortality rate. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and source of information about early detection techniques of breast cancer among Iranian women. METHODS: Both International (PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and national (scientific information database [SID] and Magiran) databases were reviewed launching to September, 2017 to obtain related articles. Steps involving the screening, analysis of quality of the studies and extraction of papers were performed by two researchers. RESULTS: Of the 749 studies searched initially, 25 studies performed on 11,756 people were selected for the final stage. General knowledge for breast cancer screening among women ranged from 4.5% to 45%. The number of people with sufficient knowledge about breast self-examination in various studies was between 5% and 79.8%. The most important source of information was the Healthcare team. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the poor knowledge and different source of information, it is suggested that educational programs be conducted around the country especially in at-risk populations.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Breast ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; Mass Screening ; Mortality ; Patient Care Team

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate the relationship between knowledge, attitude, and practice toward breast self-examination (BSE) among middle and high school girls. METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using self-report questionnaires. Participants were 412 students, 137 middle and 275 high school girls. Data were collected from December 7 to 23, 2016 and analyzed using t-test and Spearman correlation coefficient. RESULTS: The percentage of correct answers for knowledge about breast self-examination among middle and high school girls was 29.2%. The mean score for practice (5.89±0.10) among middle and high school girls was low. For knowledge, there were significant differences according to grade (t=5.93, p<.001), having heard about BSE (t=4.02, p<.001), experience of BSE (t=2.51, p=.012), and need for education (t=3.37, p=.001). In practice, there were significant differences according to having heard about BSE (t=3.64, p<.001), experience of BSE (t=2.64, p=.017). Knowledge level of BSE positively correlated with practice of BSE (r=.21, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Research results suggest that education on BSE for middle and high school girls is needed to increase the possibility of early detection of breast cancer.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Education ; Female* ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed cancers in women worldwide. Immigrant women face cultural and social impediments, discrimination, and emotional and mental stressors; and they participate less in breast cancer prevention services. Breast self examination (BSE) may be effective in early detection. The purpose of this descriptive cross-sectional study was to identify the practice of BSE and to examine predictors related to the practice of BSE among North Korean female immigrants residing in South Korea. METHODS: Data were collected from a convenience sample of 131 North Korean female immigrants aged 20 years through 65 years who had attended community centers, local churches, and women's gatherings located in Incheon, Kyeongkido, Seoul, and Jeju. RESULTS: This study found that 17.6% of the women performed BSE and 8.4% were taught the methods of detecting breast cancer including BSE. Two significant predictors to performing BSE were found-good perceived health status (P=.003)and education about breast cancer screening and the breast self examination (P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: The results showed that North Korean female immigrants who were taught the detecting methods of breast cancer including BSE were more likely to practice BSE.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Education ; Emigrants and Immigrants* ; Female ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Seoul

INTRODUCTIONSingapore is the first Asian country to establish a nationwide breast screening programme, but our breast cancer screening uptake lags behind the Western countries. This survey focused on the subject of screening mammography, to assess the reasons for non-attendance and explore ways to improve our screening uptake.

MATERIALS AND METHODSFemales ≥21 years old were approached at primary healthcare clinics to participate in this survey, which questioned their knowledge, perception and expectations of breast screening.

RESULTSThere were 1011 respondents. Of the 740 respondents ≥40 years old, 332 respondents (45.5%) went for regular mammogram screening. Women who had lower household incomes [<$2000 (OR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.85); $2000 to $3999 (OR 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.97)], did not know anyone with breast cancer (OR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42 to 0.92), did not perform breast self-examination (OR 0.42; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.62), had lower knowledge scores (OR 0.34; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.51), did not attend other health screening (OR 0.14; 95% CI, 0.05 to 0.41), and perceived mammography as embarrassing (OR 0.55; 95% CI, 0.31 to 0.96), were less likely to attend mammographic screening. Many did not know that screening is for the asymptomatic (51.2%), or the age to start screening (46.3%). Most respondents preferred to have their mammograms in the polyclinics (62.2%) and their screening reminders to be through short messaging service (SMS) (46.0%).

CONCLUSIONOur results show the current influences on Singapore women's screening practices, and also revealed that their understanding of mammogram screening is limited despite a high level of breast cancer awareness.

Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Breast Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Breast Self-Examination ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ; Humans ; Mammography ; Middle Aged ; Patient Acceptance of Health Care ; Singapore ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Young Adult

Malignant neoplasm is the most common cause of death in Korea since 1988. In terms of incidence, still gastric cancer is the most common cancer in male, but breast cancer became the second most common female cancer followed by thyroid cancer. The reasons why incidence of breast cancer is increasing, (1) Westernized food patterns; high fat and high calorie diet, (2) late marriage with lower birth rate, (3) shorter period of breast feeding, (4) longer exposure to estrogen; early menarche with late menopause, hormone replacement therapy, (5) low physical activity with high body mass index, (6) environmental stress, and etc. Still incidence of breast cancer in Korea is relatively low comparing to those of American and European populations, but it is very rapidly increasing with annual increase rate of about 6%. So Korean breast cancer specialists should try to study breast cancer in terms of basic and also clinical aspect and also educate laymen for etiology, symptoms and signs, early detection method including breast self-examination and prevention.
Birth Rate ; Body Mass Index ; Breast Feeding ; Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast Self-Examination ; Cause of Death ; Diet ; Estrogens ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Marriage ; Menarche ; Menopause ; Motor Activity ; Specialization ; Stomach Neoplasms ; Thyroid Neoplasms

PURPOSE: This study was to assess the intention of undergoing Pap testing and to identify influencing factors of HPV knowledge and their attitude related to Pap test by sexual activity among unmarried nurses. METHODS: A cross sectional survey design was employed, utilizing a self-administered questionnaire amongst 343 unmarried nurses. Descriptive statistics was utilized to analyze data and inferential statistics used an independent-t test and chi2 test for the differences in measurement variables, and odds ratios for factors on intention of Pap testing by sexual activity. RESULTS: Nurses not sexually active were significantly higher in intention of Pap testing (chi2=40.15, p<.001) and influencing factors of HPV knowledge (t=3.93, p=.048) than did nurses who were sexually active. Factors influencing intention were regularity of the breast self-examination (Adjusted Odds Ratio [AOR]=4.20, 95% Confidence Interval [CI]=1.93~9.17), HPV knowledge (AOR=2.49, 95% CI=1.36~4.56), and attitudes toward the Pap test(AOR=2.33, 95% CI=1.25~4.34) amongst nurses who never had sexual experience. CONCLUSION: It is necessary to minimize negative attitudes of Pap testing and to increase HPV knowledge in order to improve intention of Pap testing for women who were not sexually active. More focus would be given to sexually active women to get Pap tested as a preventive measure for cervical cancer.
Breast Self-Examination ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Intention* ; Odds Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sexual Behavior ; Single Person* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to develop a smartphone application to encourage breast self-examination (BSE), and to evaluate the effects of this application in terms of modifying BSE behavior. METHODS: A smartphone application, based on the Android OS, was developed with functions including a BSE date alarm, a reminder to encourage mother and daughter to practice BSE together, record keeping, and educational content with video clips. Females aged 19 and over were enrolled to evaluate the effectiveness of the application. Two series of questionnaires were carried out (before and after use of the application) by e-mail, telephone, and face-to-face interviews between July and September 2012. RESULTS: Forty-five subjects were enrolled in the study (age 29.5-5.9 years). Of the participants, only 28 (62.2%) had ever practiced BSE and only one of these (2.2%) was carried out at the appropriate time, based on the results of the baseline survey. After using the application, the number of participants practicing BSE increased from 28 to 32 (62.2% to 71.1%, p = 0.503). In subgroup analysis (age < 30 years), the number of participants using BSE increased from 8 to 18 (36.4% to 81.8%, p = 0.002), and the number of those using it at the appropriate time rose from 1 to 15 (2.2% to 33.3%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The use of the developed smartphone application increased BSE in females younger than 30 years. To confirm the long-term benefits of the mobile application, additional studies must be carried out.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination* ; Breast* ; Electronic Mail ; Feasibility Studies* ; Female ; Humans ; Mothers ; Nuclear Family ; Smartphone ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Telephone

PURPOSE: This study was to identify factors affecting mammography screening behavior in job women by attitude, social influence and self-efficacy model. METHODS: The data were obtained from 171 job women in one residency area by structural questionnaire from March to June 2013 and analysed by using chi2-test, ANOVA, Spearman's correlation and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The each performance rate was 45.1% in mammography, 44.9% in breast self examination and 48.5% in physical examination. The mammography performance rate in job women showed higher significance in the groups of 1) older age, urban residency, marital status or high economic state, 2) shorter office hours or higher job position, 3) childbirth experience or menopause and 4) preferring soy bean food, practicing regular exercise, suffering chronic disease or receiving radiation therapy. Attitude, social influences and self-efficacy made significant differences in mammography performance. Logistic regression analysis showed that 50 years or older, urban residency, social influences towards mammography and high self-efficacy were significant relationship. CONCLUSION: In order to increase the mammography performance rate, the intervention strategies are needed to increase positive social influences or self-efficacy and to offer public information to younger age.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Self-Examination ; Chronic Disease ; Female ; Humans ; Internship and Residency ; Logistic Models ; Mammography* ; Marital Status ; Mass Screening ; Menopause ; Parturition ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Soybeans