title: Predictors of knowledge level and awareness towards breast cancer among Turkish females.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer (BC) is the most-common malignancy of women worldwide. Though there are differences among developed and developing countries, BC remains the most common cancer type of women in Turkey.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to identify the level of knowledge, awareness, and their potential predictors towards BC in Ankara, Turkey.
  
  
  METHODS
  The present descriptive study was conducted on 376 females attending a breast health outpatient clinic. A self-administered questionnaire was designed to evaluate knowledge level about BC and predictors effecting its level. Data analysis was performed using the chi-square test. A value of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean age of the participants was 46.2±9.93 (22-75). The majority (92.6 %) were married; 41.5% were educated less than nine years. Most of the women were housewives (82.7%) and, were living in an urban region (86.4%). Predictors of effecting responses to seven knowledge and awareness questions about BC varied from demographic features including older age groups, higher educational levels, being married, living in an urban area, being employee, smoking, having greater BMI to additional attributes associated breast health such as the increased number of births, applying for the purpose of control, positive family history of breast diseases, any diagnoses of breast diseases and performing BSE practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It was determined that females in Turkey have better knowledge of BC than other developing countries even though it is not at the desired level. These findings revealed that females should be more informed about BC risk factors, prognosis and treatments by primary health-care providers to counteract the ascending burden of this disease.
authors: Department of Family Medicine, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey E-mail : ycetindoganer@hotmail.com.
authors: Umit
authors: U
authors: Aydogan
authors: Yusuf C
authors: YC
authors: Doganer
authors: Zafer
authors: Z
authors: Kilbas
authors: James E
authors: JE
authors: Rohrer
authors: Oktay
authors: O
authors: Sari
authors: Necibe
authors: N
authors: Usterme
authors: Servet
authors: S
authors: Yuksel
authors: Halil
authors: H
authors: Akbulut
authors: Salih M
authors: SM
authors: Balkan
authors: Kenan
authors: K
authors: Saglam
authors: Turgut
authors: T
authors: Tufan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014421:Turkey; D055815:Young Adult