Evaluating female nursing students' knowledge and attitudes regarding breast self-examination

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Public Health
• Nursing Education

Background:

• Breast cancer remains a significant health concern globally, necessitating effective early detection strategies.
• Breast self-examination (BSE) is a recognized method for early breast cancer detection, empowering women to monitor their breast health.
• Understanding knowledge and attitudes towards BSE among future healthcare professionals is crucial for promoting preventive health behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the level of knowledge and attitudes concerning breast self-examination (BSE) among female nursing students.
• To identify factors influencing BSE practice within this specific demographic.
• To inform the development of targeted breast cancer prevention education strategies.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study was conducted with 175 female nursing students at a university in Cyprus.
• Data were collected using a questionnaire incorporating the Champion Health Belief Model scale and demographic questions.
• Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes, and practice levels of BSE.

Main Results:

• Over half of the students (58.3%) reported knowledge of BSE, yet only 29.1% received formal instruction during their studies.
• A significant proportion (59.9%) had never performed BSE, with only 10.9% practicing it monthly.
• Self-confidence showed a strong positive correlation (0.86) with BSE frequency, indicating its importance in practice.

Conclusions:

• Female nursing students in Cyprus exhibit suboptimal knowledge and practice levels regarding breast self-examination.
• Low BSE practice highlights a critical gap in preventive health education and self-care behaviors.
• There is an urgent need to implement comprehensive breast cancer prevention programs targeting nursing students to enhance BSE uptake.