KAP of PHC nurses about breast cancer screening

ABSTRACT

This is a descriptive study carried out in Dakahlia Governorate, Egypt to explore KAP of PHC nurses about breast cancer screening. A total of 178 nurses completed an anonymous self-administered questionnaire concerning KAP about breast cancer and its screening. Despite the finding that 84.3% of nurses agreed that breast cancer can be diagnosed early, knowledge about effectiveness of breast self-examination [BSE], clinical breast examination [CBE] and mammography in early detection of breast cancer is low with a negative attitude towards mammographic screening. About 44% of nurses never Screened by any method. Only 53.9% ever did BSE, 16.3% ever had a CBE and 2.2% ever had a mammogram. CBE and mammogram were mostly done on doctors' advice due to presence of breast problems. Value and methods of breast cancer screening should be an integral part of nursing school curriculum. Also in service training will be of great value. Despite controversies about efficacy of BSE, it remains the most suitable screening method in our community due to economic and cultural reasons