Effect of Health Education on Raising Female Students Awareness' Regarding Breast Cancer at Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major killer in women globally and in developing regions where the early cancer detection facilities are unavailable, with late presentation and prognosis is worse. Breast cancer awareness would be a tool to fight this disease through early detection and there by decrease the morbidity and mortality. Aim of the study: to improve female students’ knowledge and practice toward breast cancer in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: Research Design: A quasi experimental design was used. Tools: Three tools were developed for data collection including interviewing questionnaire which include socio-demographic characteristics, female students attitude toward breast cancer and source of their knowledge about breast cancer, students’ knowledge assessment sheet about risk factors, signs, symptoms and screening of breast cancer, and the third tool was about the practice of breast self –examination. Sample: a convenient sample of 339 female students was recruited in this study. The data collection was from February to end May2013. Results: Data were collected from 339 female students. About 69.9% of students in the age group from 20-22 years. There were statistically significant improvements of students’ knowledge score after education regarding risk factors, signs and symptoms, and screening of breast cancer. Additionally 17.1% of students were practicing breast self examination (BSE) in pretest compared to 35.4% of them in posttest. Conclusion: Post educational sessions not only improved female students’ knowledge but also, significantly improved the attitude toward breast cancer self examination.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Breast Self Examination, Screening of  Breast Cancer, Raising Awareness.