Evaluation of knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of non-physician healthcare professionals about breast cancer screening program

Abstract

Cancer screening programs are carried out worldwide and in our country to diagnose breast cancer in its early stage, before the disease shows any symptoms. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of non-physician healthcare professionals about breast cancer screening programs. This study was planned as a cross-sectional survey study, nurses and female non-physician hospital staff from different professions were included. In addition to primary demographic data, various questions were asked to the participants to evaluate their knowledge about breast cancer screening programs and compliance with breast cancer screening programs, and then the data were analyzed. A total of 332 volunteers were included in our study. 317 (95.5%) of them stated that they had heard of the Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Centers (KETEM) before. When asked whether cancer screenings were essential, 327 (98.5%) of the volunteers answered “Yes,” considering it is essential, and thus it was thought that non-physician healthcare professionals had a high awareness of this issue. Fifty (15.1%) of the non-physician healthcare professionals stated that they regularly performed breast self-exams once a month, 83 (25.0%) did not do any breast examination, and 154 (46.4%) did it sporadically. Of the population, 66 people were 40 years and older. In this population, 33 (50.0%) of the participants answered “Yes” to the question “Have you ever had a mammogram?”; whereas 33 (50.0%) of them answered “No.” In general, the awareness of the participants was high, but it was thought that their level of knowledge about breast cancer screening was insufficient. In addition, it was observed that the compliance rates to cancer screening programs were insufficient. Therefore, an absolute effort should be made to increase the knowledge and awareness of health professionals who play an essential role in public health.