Abstract
Objective: to assess knowledge, attitudes and practices of working women in Tabuk University regarding breast cancer.
Methods: Descriptive design was utilized to fulfill the aim of this study. The study was conducted in female sections at five colleges of Tabuk University, including Science, Applied Medical Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, Education and Arts colleges. Convenience sampling was done on all the working women (n= 60) in the selected five colleges at the time of the study. Three tools of data collection were used; 1) a self-administrated questionnaire sheet: It included socio-demographic data, health history, practices of study subjects to early detection measures and knowledge assessment 2)a modified likert scale: to assess the attitudes of working women regarding breast cancer. 3); an observation checklist, to assess the practices of the women regarding breast self-examination.
Results: The findings revealed that 11.7% of the study participants had a positive family history of breast cancer. 90.0% of them had unsatisfactory knowledge, and 63.3% had neutral attitude regarding BC, and more than half (51.7%) of them obtained poor score regarding their performance of breast self-examination.
Conclusion: The majority of the working women in Tabuk University had unsatisfactory knowledge, and neutral attitudes regarding breast cancer, and poor practices toward breast self-examination, and other early detection screening measures.