Breast Self-Examination: Evaluating Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Among Female Medical Students

TL;DR

This study finds that female medical students in India have poor knowledge and practice of breast self-examination, but these improve with education and experience.

Contribution

The study provides new insights into BSE knowledge and practices among female medical students in a specific Indian region.

Findings

Only 47.9% of students had adequate knowledge of BSE techniques and timing.

Just 8.2% of participants performed BSE monthly as recommended.

Knowledge, attitude, and practice improved with age and academic year.

Abstract

Background

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally and the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in India. Early detection through breast self-examination (BSE) is crucial for improving prognosis, particularly in resource-limited settings. Despite its straightforward nature, the practice of BSE remains infrequent. This study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of BSE among female medical students in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh, India.

Methods

This cross-sectional observational study was conducted from January to March 2023, involving 146 undergraduate female students at Government Bundelkhand Medical College, Sagar. Data were collected using a pretested, semi-structured, self-administered questionnaire. Knowledge, attitude, and practice scores were categorized based on the mean. The chi-square test was utilized to assess differences in knowledge, attitude, and practice between groups, while Pearson’s correlation was employed to examine the relationships among these three domains.

Results

The mean age of participants was 21.1 ± 1.8 years, with the majority being third-year medical students. Overall, 52.1% (76/146, 95% CI: 43.6-60.4%) demonstrated inadequate knowledge of BSE, whereas only 47.9% (70/146, 95% CI: 39.6-56.4%) exhibited adequate knowledge. Although 68.5% (100/146) of students were aware of BSE, a detailed understanding of its appropriate timing, frequency, and technique was limited. Negative attitudes toward BSE were reported by 51.4% (75/146, 95% CI: 43.0-59.7%), and only 49.3% (72/146, 95% CI: 41.0-57.7%) reported satisfactory BSE practices. Notably, a mere 29.5% (43/146) of participants had ever performed BSE, with only 8.2% (12/146) adhering to the recommended monthly practice. An upward trend in knowledge, attitude, and practice scores was observed with increasing age and academic year. Moreover, there were notable positive correlations identified among knowledge, attitude, and practice.

Conclusions

This study underscores the insufficient knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding BSE among female medical students in Sagar, Madhya Pradesh. Despite its simplicity and cost-free nature, BSE remains underutilized due to informational gaps and psychological barriers. However, the improvement in knowledge, attitude, and practice with academic progression suggests that structured education and clinical exposure can enhance BSE adoption.

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