Breast cancer awareness and breast self-examination among future female university graduates: comparison between medical and non-medical students

Elsadig Yousif Mohamed; Waqas Sami; Abdullah Atallah Alenezi; Abdulrahman Mubarak Almutairi; Ahmad Khalid Alsalboud; Khalid Mohammad Alhusainy; Mohammad Awadh Almutairi; Syed Meraj Ahmed; Khalid Altohami Medani; Mohammed Abdullah Al Mansour; Mansour Khatir Alzahrani; Talal Shakhs Algamdi; Fahad Bin Mohamed Alfhaid; Tahir Ansari

doi:10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20160505

Authors

Elsadig Yousif Mohamed College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Waqas Sami College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Abdullah Atallah Alenezi College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Abdulrahman Mubarak Almutairi College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Ahmad Khalid Alsalboud College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Khalid Mohammad Alhusainy College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Mohammad Awadh Almutairi College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Syed Meraj Ahmed College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Khalid Altohami Medani College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Mohammed Abdullah Al Mansour College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Mansour Khatir Alzahrani College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Talal Shakhs Algamdi College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Fahad Bin Mohamed Alfhaid College of Medicine, Majmaah University
Tahir Ansari College of Medicine, Majmaah University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2320-6012.ijrms20160505

Keywords:

Breast cancer, Awareness, Breast self-examination, Screening test

Abstract

Background: Breast cancer is a common health problem among females in Saudi Arabia. The disease account for 27% of all female malignancies representing 25.1% of all newly diagnosed female cancers. The objectives of the current study were to assess the level of carcinoma breast awareness of female university students, Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia and to compare the level of awareness, breast self-examination and breast cancer screening between medical and non-medical students.

Methods: The current study was a cross-sectional, conducted among female students in Majmaah University in Saudi Arabia. The stratified and the systematic sampling were employed to select the colleges and the students respectively. The sample size was calculated as 325. Data was collected by a pre tested questionnaire and analyzed by SPSS.

Results: The university students who acquired good knowledge were 111 (34.2%). Students who acquired average and poor knowledge were 42.2% and 23.6% respectively. Medical students who had good knowledge were 37.6% compared to 26.9% of non-medical students. The results showed that 94 (28.9%) of the participants practice breast self-examination and 25 (7.6%) performed a screening test.

Conclusions: The study concluded that Majmaah University students’ awareness of carcinoma breast is low. There is no significant difference in the level of awareness between students of medical colleges and those of non-medical colleges. The level of practicing breast self-examination and performing screening test for carcinoma breast among female university students is low. There is a significant difference in performing carcinoma breast screening test between medical and non-medical students.

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