Abstract
Knowledge and familiarity of breast cancer screening protocols by primary health care (PHC) physicians can influence the counseling and education they give to women regarding breast examination and screening. This study aims to evaluate PHC physicians' attitude to and practices regarding breast cancer screening among women in Medina, Saudi Arabia. This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted using a multipart English questionnaire, focused on PHC physicians 'awareness and their attitudes to recommending breast cancer screening and mammography to women 40 to 49 years old. The study sample was physicians in PHC centers in Medina. A total of 40 clinicians completed the survey. Overall, 36 (90.0%) of the respondents believed that clinical breast exam performed by a practitioner, and 31 (77.5%) believed that breast self-exam performed by the patient were effective in reducing breast cancer mortality in average risk women. Also, 35 (87.5%) of the respondents each believed that screening mammography for women over 40 years was effective in reducing breast cancer mortality in average risk women. Only, 14 (35.0%) of the respondents routinely recommended mammography to women who were 40 - 49 years old. A number of breast examination screening barriers were identified related to patient, provider and health system factors. Our survey showed that clinicians still believed in the effectiveness of clinical breast examination and breast self-examination, and continue to recommend it to women in Saudi Arabia. Some of the clinicians recommended mammography to at-risk women; however, effective utilization of this screening method is hampered by many barriers. Interventions to address these barriers will improve utilization.