Knowledge, Attitude and Practice regarding Breast Self-Examination among the Staff Nurses of Tertiary Care Hospital: An Observational Study

TL;DR

This study examines how well nurses in Nepal understand and practice breast self-examination, finding gaps in knowledge despite regular practice.

Contribution

The study provides insights into nurses' knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding breast self-examination in a tertiary hospital in Nepal.

Findings

70 (38.89%) participants had good knowledge of breast self-examination.

74 (41.11%) nurses had a favorable attitude toward breast self-examination.

133 (73.89%) participants reported performing the examination monthly.

Abstract

Breast cancer is a leading public health concern for women in Nepal, making early detection critically important. Nurses serve as vital patient educators, and their own knowledge, attitude, and practice regarding breast self-examination are therefore essential. The study was aimed to find out the level of knowledge, attitude, and practice concerning breast self-examination among staff nurses at a tertiary care hospital.

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care hospital in Kathmandu, Nepal from June 1st to September 30th, 2025. Ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: NMC/IRC/01/24-25). A total of 180 staff nurses were included in the study using a total enumerative sampling method. Data were collected with a pretested, self-administered questionnaire based on previous literature. Data were entered and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 23.0.

Among the 180 nurses, a good level of knowledge regarding breast selfexamination was found in 70 (38.89%) participants. A favorable attitude was seen in 74 (41.11%) nurses. Regarding practice, 133 (73.89%) participants reported performing the examination on a monthly basis.

While a large proportion of participants reported performing BSE on a monthly basis, gaps in technical knowledge and variability in attitudes were identified. These findings highlight the coexistence of regular practice with variable knowledge and mixed perceptions among nurses.