Females Awareness and Attitudes Regarding Breast Self-Examination and Breast Cancer in Riyadh Province
Nehad J. Ahmed *
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Saad M. Alshahrani
Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Alanoud Almutiran
College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Abdulrahman S. Alrawili
College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
Faisal Z. Alkhawaja
College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the awareness and attitudes of females in Riyadh province regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination.
Methodology: This is a retrospective study that was conducted using a survey that was adapted from previously published studies that were conducted in Northeast Nigeria and Jordan. The survey was distributed both as a paper-based survey or as an online survey.
Results: Most of of the respondents who filled the paper-based survey said that they are aware about breast cancer (88%). The main source for their knowledge was social media (67.67%). More than 95% of the respondents who filled the online survey said that they are aware about breast cancer. The main source for their knowledge was social media (53.85%). Most of the respondents of paper-based survey respondents said that they heard about breast self-examination but they didn’t practice it (54.00%). Most of online survey respondents said that they heard about breast self-examination but they didn’t practice it (62.67%).
Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that females had good knowledge about breast self-examination and breast cancer but a high percentage of the females don’t practice breast self-examination. It is recommended to increase females’ level of knowledge about breast self-examination through intensified awareness programs and also to encourage them to perform the examination regularly.
Keywords: Attitudes, awareness, breast cancer, breast self-examination.