Breast Cancer Awareness among Healthcare Professionals - 2 Decades later: An Observational Review

Based on a follow up update on a previous study performed 2 decades earlier (Ann SM; 2000; 20(2): 135-136). Portraying alarming results on knowledge and attitudes on breast cancer among healthcare professionals from and university hospital. This review aims to explore the current performance of healthcare professionals towards breast cancer awareness in a potentially developed era. Materials and Methods: This Cross-Sectional pilot tested study was conducted at a university hospital targeting all healthcare professionals between June 2017 - December 2017. Designed structured questionnaires were directly distributed to cover demographic data, high-risk factors, knowledge and attitudes towards breast cancer. The target population was 600. Results: The total respondents were 532(88%). Age ranged between 19-59 years with the mean age of 28 years. These where 200(37%) final year medical students, 118(22%) interns, 60(11%) residents 22(4%), specialist 30(5%), 28(5%) consultants, and 74(13%) nurses. High risk group accounted for 120(23%) of all participants. The highest scores were obtained from the younger group of staff, the interns\students (91%, 97%) as compared to the specialist\consultant categories (75%, 82%). Nurses unexpectedly had shown lower scores in knowledge (71%) which may suggest that the practical education in nursing practice supersedes knowledge in special fields. High risk group did not show significant difference in the overall knowledge scores (84%) yet, they scored higher in attitudes towards BCAP (94%). Conclusion: The necessity for (BCAP) cannot be overstated. The impressive and remarkable improvement of breast cancer awareness coupled with the availability and readiness of human resources assist in the planning, implementing and setting guidelines and strategies for breast cancer early detection programs. It can be declared that our community is equipped with knowledgeable medical staff, who can perform adequately run Breast Cancer Awareness Programs.