Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, Turkey.
Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Institute of Health Sciences, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey.
BMC Med Educ. 2024 Apr 3;24(1):363. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-05353-x.
Female breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer, and knowledge of breast cancer risk factors, and symptoms is crucial for early diagnosis and prevention. This study aims to evaluate breast cancer awareness among female students at a pharmacy faculty in Turkey.
A cross-sectional online survey study was conducted among female students at the Suleyman Demirel University Faculty of Pharmacy between 2 November and 17 November 2023, in Isparta, Turkey.
This survey was answered by 237 (74.5%) female students. The median breast cancer risk factors score was 8 (IQR, 5-11), and the median breast cancer symptoms score was 5 (IQR, 2-8). Additionally, the breast cancer risk factors score was 46.16% (mean/max = 8.31/18, SD = 4.33) and the breast cancer symptom score was 58.5% (mean/max = 4.68/8, SD = 2.8). Few of the respondents (26.2%, and 20.3%, respectively) knew breast cancer risk factors such as late menopause, and no childbirth experience. Most respondents correctly answered symptoms of breast cancer, such as a painless and palpable breast lump, indrawing of the nipple, and sudden changes in breast shape (76.8%,44.3%, and 67.1% respectively). The students' sources of information were medical websites (29.5%), social media (27%), physicians (22.8%), friends & family (14.8%), and pharmacists (5.9%).
This study showed that students' knowledge of breast cancer risk factors was poor, but their knowledge of breast cancer symptoms was acceptable. Breast cancer awareness courses should be included in faculties. Additionally, more attention should be given to different educational interventions such as social media, television, and brochure distribution.
女性乳腺癌是最常见的癌症，了解乳腺癌的危险因素和症状对于早期诊断和预防至关重要。本研究旨在评估土耳其一所药学院女性学生的乳腺癌意识。
2023 年 11 月 2 日至 11 月 17 日，在土耳其伊斯帕塔的 Suleyman Demirel 大学药学院进行了一项横断面在线调查研究，调查对象为该校女性学生。
这项调查共收到 237 名（74.5%）女性学生的回复。乳腺癌危险因素评分中位数为 8（IQR，5-11），乳腺癌症状评分中位数为 5（IQR，2-8）。此外，乳腺癌危险因素评分得分为 46.16%（均值/最大值=8.31/18，标准差=4.33），乳腺癌症状评分得分为 58.5%（均值/最大值=4.68/8，标准差=2.8）。只有少数（分别为 26.2%和 20.3%）受访者了解乳腺癌的危险因素，如晚绝经和无生育经历。大多数受访者正确回答了乳腺癌的症状，如无痛可触及的乳房肿块、乳头内陷和乳房形状突然改变（分别为 76.8%、44.3%和 67.1%）。学生们的信息来源包括医学网站（29.5%）、社交媒体（27%）、医生（22.8%）、朋友和家人（14.8%）以及药剂师（5.9%）。
本研究表明，学生对乳腺癌危险因素的认识较差，但对乳腺癌症状的认识尚可。各学院应开设乳腺癌意识课程。此外，应更加关注不同的教育干预措施，如社交媒体、电视和宣传册分发。
