Abdelaziz, A., Shawki, M., Shaaban, A., Albarouki, S., Rachid, A., Alsalhani, O., Jomaa, M. (2021). Breast Cancer Awareness among Egyptian Women and the Impact of Caring for Patients with Breast Cancer on Family Caregivers’ Knowledge and Behaviour. Research in Oncology, 17(1), 1-8. doi: 10.21608/resoncol.2020.42340.1114
Ahmed H. Abdelaziz; May A. Shawki; Amrou M. Shaaban; Sali K. Albarouki; Ahmad M. Rachid; Obai M. Alsalhani; Mona K. Jomaa. "Breast Cancer Awareness among Egyptian Women and the Impact of Caring for Patients with Breast Cancer on Family Caregivers’ Knowledge and Behaviour". Research in Oncology, 17, 1, 2021, 1-8. doi: 10.21608/resoncol.2020.42340.1114
Abdelaziz, A., Shawki, M., Shaaban, A., Albarouki, S., Rachid, A., Alsalhani, O., Jomaa, M. (2021). 'Breast Cancer Awareness among Egyptian Women and the Impact of Caring for Patients with Breast Cancer on Family Caregivers’ Knowledge and Behaviour', Research in Oncology, 17(1), pp. 1-8. doi: 10.21608/resoncol.2020.42340.1114
Abdelaziz, A., Shawki, M., Shaaban, A., Albarouki, S., Rachid, A., Alsalhani, O., Jomaa, M. Breast Cancer Awareness among Egyptian Women and the Impact of Caring for Patients with Breast Cancer on Family Caregivers’ Knowledge and Behaviour. Research in Oncology, 2021; 17(1): 1-8. doi: 10.21608/resoncol.2020.42340.1114
Breast Cancer Awareness among Egyptian Women and the Impact of Caring for Patients with Breast Cancer on Family Caregivers’ Knowledge and Behaviour
1Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
2Baheya Foundation for Breast Cancer, Giza, Egypt
3Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
4Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt
5Ain Shams University Hospitals, Cairo, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in Egyptian females. Most patients present at a late stage with subsequent poor outcomes. Aim: To study the awareness of breast cancer, its risk factors and screening. To investigate the impact of caring for a family member with breast cancer on the awareness and future attitudes of caregivers. Methods: The study included 704 females divided into two groups. A non-caregivers group including 248 participants representing the general population and a caregivers group including 456 family caregivers of breast cancer patients. We used a questionnaire comprised of 45 questions assessing four domains: individual risk factors, awareness of risk factors, awareness of screening, and the practice of and barriers to screening. Those who answered more than 50% of the questions correctly were considered to have good knowledge. Results: Sixty-nine percent of participants showed poor knowledge of risk factors. In the screening awareness domain, only 44% of participants scored >50% indicating defective knowledge. Caregivers attained significantly higher scores in all domains (p < 0.001). Yet, the overall assessment showed poor knowledge in both groups. Only 3% of non-caregivers and 19% of caregivers performed mammography (p < 0.001); while 11% and 38%, respectively, underwent breast self-examination (p < 0.001). Higher education level was associated with significantly better knowledge (p < 0.001). Conclusions: Breast cancer knowledge among Egyptian females is deficient. The level of education and caring for a breast cancer patient significantly affect the level of knowledge and attitude towards screening. There is a need to implement a comprehensive national awareness and screening programme.