Breast Cancer Awareness among Egyptian Women and the Impact of Caring for Patients with Breast Cancer on Family Caregivers’ Knowledge and Behaviour

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

2 Baheya Foundation for Breast Cancer, Giza, Egypt

3 Clinical Pharmacy Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

4 Clinical Oncology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt

5 Ain 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.
 

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