Effects of education on women’s knowledge about breast self-examination and breast cancer

Background The study was led to detect risk factors regarding breast cancer among women and explore any possible changes in their knowledge and conducts after being trained about breast self-examination (BSE) and breast cancer itself. Methods The survey is a quasi-experimental study used in one group pretest-posttest design. Its population covers (n = 94) the women enrolled in a course, September-December 2016, of Odunpazarı Public Education Center and Evening Art School.Sample selection was not used, and in the group there were totally 94 women enlisting in the course during the study aiming to reach every woman. Some variables regarding breast cancer (e.g. age, BSE, menopause, birth) were gained through a survey by researchers while their awareness of it and post-tests given a week after training. Results The group's age average is 37.28±10.98, and 75.5% of them are married and 30.9% had elementary education. 35.1% are housewives. 33% smoke and 10.6% had their first period below their 12s whereas 25.5% had it in their 14s and above. 17.6% bore their first child below their 20s but 7.4% above their 30s. 42.6% were informed to have no BSE, and 47.5% were unaware of it, and 45% stated that they did not as they thought it as inessential. Subjected to no BSE and mammography before, those being a bachelor and climacteric were confirmed to have low awareness before their training (p < 0.05 for each). Results obtained show that the score 27.28 ± 4.20 (min. 11.00-max. 34.00) of trainee women is much higher than that of 16.97±6.88 (min. 2.00-max. 29.00) by the others before training. Conclusions Trained women might be claimed to have gained increased awareness of BSE and breast cancer. Key message: To improve woman’s knowledge about bse and breast cancer, the health training programs and consulting strategies should be organized