title: Breast cancer knowledge and screening behaviour among women with a positive family history: a cross sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer is the commonest type of cancer among women, and in Malaysia 50-60% of the new cases are being detected at late stages. Do age, education level, income, ethnicity, relationship with breast cancer patients and knowledge of breast cancer risk factors influence breast screening practices? This study revealed interesting but significant differences.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and early detection measures among women in a high risk group.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross sectional survey of one hundred and thirty one women relatives of breast cancer patients was carried out. Participants were selected through purposive sampling, during hospital visits. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of the respondents (71%) had poor knowledge of the risk factors for breast cancer. Income, relationship with a patient and practise of breast cancer screening predicted performance of mammography, R2=0.467, F=12.568, p<0.0001.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The finding shows inadequate knowledge of breast cancer risk factors and poor cancer screening practise among women with family history of breast cancer. Poor knowledge and practise of breast screening are likely to lead to late stage presentation of breast cancer disease. Some important predictors of breast cancer screening behaviour among women with positive family history of breast cancer were identified. An understanding of the strengths and significance of the association between these factors and breast screening behaviour is vital for developing more targeted breast health promotion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing Science, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia E-mail : pathmawathi@um.edu.my.
authors.forename: Pathmawathi
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Subramanian
authors.forename: Nelson Ositadimma
authors.initials: NO
authors.lastname: Oranye
authors.forename: Azimah Mohd
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Masri
authors.forename: Nur Aishah
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Taib
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008296:Malaysia; D008327:Mammography; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D055815:Young Adult