Abstract
Objective(s): To assess the knowledge of risk factors and screening methods for breast cancer, perception of the disease, and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) among female patients attending Primary Health Care Centers (PHCCs) in Al-Khobar city, Saudi Arabia
Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study using interview-based questionnaires
Setting: Primary Health Care Centers Subjects: Six hundred Saudi and non-Saudi Arabic speaking females aged 25 years or more
Main Outcome Measures: Level of knowledge and perception of breast cancer; proportion of women practicing BSE
Results: Forty-eight percent women had poor knowledge about breast cancer. Around 85% women recognized postmenopausal hormone therapy, period of breast feeding and smoking to be risk factors for breast cancer. Only 25% women knew that mammogram is the best screening method. Almost half (49.2%) of participants were seriously concerned about getting breast cancer. In the multiple regression analysis, age, education and occupation of women were significant positive predictors of level of knowledge (p < 0.05). Television was the most important source of knowledge (44.1%). BSE was practiced by 44.6% women. Logistic regression analysis showed that practice of BSE in women was more likely with increasing age, educational level and knowledge scores as well as in homemakers and health-care workers (p < 0.05).
Conclusion: The study showed that a substantially high proportion (48%) of female PHCC attendees had knowledge deficits regarding breast cancer. BSE was not being practiced by 55.4% women. There is a need to target women for educational programs on breast cancer particularly through PHCCs.