KNOWLEDGE OF NURSES ABOUT BREAST CANCER RISK FACTORS, GENERAL AWARENESS AND SCREENING PROCEDURES IN SOUTH INDIA

Background: General awareness and knowledge about risk factors for breast cancer, and screening procedures, is low among the general population and even among many health workers in India. Aims & Objectives: To assess the level of knowledge of nurses about breast cancer risk factors, and screening procedures including breast self-examination. Materials and Methods: 342 nurses were given a pre-designed questionnaire to obtain information, regarding their general awareness about the disease, and to know the level of knowledge about risk factors and screening procedures regarding breast cancer. Percentages were used to study the results. Results: Knowledge about risk factors like smoking (36.84%), fatty food (33.33%) and obesity (28.94%) among nurses was poor. Conclusion: Steps may be taken to make necessary changes in the nursing curriculum to increase general awareness, and enhance knowledge about risk factors for breast cancer and BSE procedures – so that the nurses can play a major role in early detection and prevention of the disease among women in the community.