KNOWLEDGE, AWARENESS AND BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION PRACTICE AMONG SULTAN AHMAD SHAH MEDICAL CENTRE@INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY MALAYSIA NURSES: FOLLOW UP 6 MONTHS STUDY

Abstract

Background: Nurses play an important role as public’s health educator particularly in breast cancer screening. Thus, there is a need for follow up studies on breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE) to ensure that nurses’ knowledge are updated. The objectives are to determine the level of knowledge, awareness, and practice on breast cancer and BSE among staff nurses in SASMEC@IIUM in Kuantan, Pahang and its association with socio-demographic factors. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 30 nurses in SASMEC@IIUM using convenience sampling. A self-administered questionnaire was used to determine the level of knowledge, awareness and practice among staff nurses in this follow up study. The data was analysed through SPSS version 23.0 using the tests of descriptive statistic, Independent T-Test, One Way ANOVA and Pearson’s correlation test. Results: Among 30 nurses involved, 86.7% were female, Malay (96.7%), married (66.7%), with family history of cancer (26.7%) and having family history of breast cancer (13.3%). An association was found between nurses’ education level and knowledge of sign and symptoms of breast cancer (p=0.05), where nurses with degree has higher level of knowledge. Discussion: Majority of them have moderate level of knowledge on risk factors and sign and symptoms of breast cancer, awareness on breast cancer and practice of BSE. Conclusion: The level of knowledge, awareness and practice of breast cancer and BSE among nurses are still at a moderate level. Thus, an intervention needed to be done to overcome this matter.