Validity and reliability of a breast cancer knowledge test

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Health Education

Background:

• Effective breast cancer prevention and early detection strategies rely on understanding screening knowledge.
• Assessing knowledge about breast cancer screening practices is crucial for targeted health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate the Breast Cancer Knowledge Test (BCKT) for measuring knowledge about breast cancer detection and screening.
• To examine the relationship between breast cancer screening knowledge and actual screening behaviors in women aged 50 and older.

Main Methods:

• The Breast Cancer Knowledge Test was developed, initially with 30 items, and content validity was established by cancer control experts.
• Reliability testing was conducted on a sample of 101 women aged 50+, resulting in an 18-item final instrument.
• Correlational analyses assessed the association between BCKT scores and self-reported screening behaviors.

Main Results:

• Higher scores on the Breast Cancer Knowledge Test were significantly associated with increased use of mammography.
• Greater knowledge correlated with a higher likelihood of undergoing a clinical breast examination.
• No significant association was found between breast cancer screening knowledge and the practice of breast self-examination.

Conclusions:

• The Breast Cancer Knowledge Test is a reliable and valid instrument for assessing knowledge related to breast cancer screening.
• Enhanced knowledge about breast cancer screening positively influences the adoption of mammography and clinical breast exams.
• Further research may be needed to understand factors influencing breast self-examination practices independently of general screening knowledge.