title: Awareness of Breast Cancer among Surgical Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in Malaysia
abstract: Background: Breast cancer is the commonest cancer among women worldwide. About one in nineteen women in
  Malaysia are at risk, compared to one in eight in Europe and the United States. The objectives of this study were: (1) to
  assess patients’ knowledge on risk factors, symptoms and methods of screening of breast cancer; and (2) to determine
  their perceptions towards the disease treatment outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional survey using a validated selfadministered
  questionnaire was conducted among 119 consecutive surgical female patients admitted from 1st of
  September to 8th of October 2015 in Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim, Kedah. Data were analyzed using General linear
  regression and Spearman’s correlation with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20. Results: Mean (SD)
  age was 40.6 (15.1) years and majority of the patients were Malay (106, 89.1%). Mean scores for general knowledge,
  risk factors and symptoms of breast cancer were 50.2 (24.0%), 43.0 (22.9%) and 64.4 (28.4%) respectively. Mean
  total knowledge score was 52.1(19.7%). 80 (67.2%) and 55 (46.2%) patients were aware of breast self-examination
  and clinical breast examination recommendations, respectively. Generally, patients had positive perceptions towards
  breast cancer treatment outcomes. However, majority (59.7%) considered that it would be a long and painful process.
  Knowledge was significantly better among married women with spouses (p=0.046), those with personal history of
  breast cancer (p=0.022) and with monthly personal income (p=0.001) with the coefficient of determination, R2=0.16.
  Spearman’s correlation test showed a significant positive relationship between monthly personal income and breast
  cancer awareness (r = 0.343, p <0.001). Conclusion: Awareness on breast cancer among our patients was average. Thus,
  there is a need for more awareness programs to educate women about breast cancer and promote its early detection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Hospital Sultan Abdul Halim, Sungai Petani, Malaysia. Email: ranita7784@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ranita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kirubakaran
authors.forename: Teoh
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chee Jia
authors.forename: Naimah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mahamad Aris
keywords: Breast cancer; general knowledge; methods of screening; risk factors; symptoms