Knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination among female undergraduate medical students in Poonch Medical College, Azad Kashmir

Abstract

A cross-sectional observational study was conducted to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) of breast self-examination (BSE) among female undergraduate medical students in Poonch Medical College, Azad Kashmir. Out of 306 respondents, 250 completed the 16-item questionnaire (response rate of 81.7%). The correlations between knowledge, attitude, and practice were observed. Out of the total 250 respondents, 180 (72.0%) had ever heard of BSE, and 62 (24.8%) had performed BSE. The most important source of information regarding BSE was 'internet', which delivered knowledge to 64 (25.6%) students. The majority 200 (80%) thought that publicity and campaigns can motivate students to perform BSE. There was mild uphill correlation between knowledge and attitude, and knowledge and practice (p<0.001). The study identified poor KAP of BSE among the students, although most of the students gave high importance to BSE practice. Nationwide BSE campaigns can be undertaken to increase the practice as most of the respondents were positive about mass campaign.

Keywords: BSE, Breast cancer, Screening, Medical students, Pakistan..