# A Systematic Review of Breast Cancer Knowledge Among School-Level Students Worldwide

## TL;DR

This review highlights the lack of detailed breast cancer education for school students and calls for better educational interventions to improve knowledge and prevention.

## Contribution

The paper identifies a critical gap in educational interventions and methodological details in breast cancer knowledge among school students.

## Key findings

- Only six studies on breast cancer education for school students were found between 2000 and 2021.
- Educational interventions in the reviewed studies lacked specific methodological details.
- Cross-sectional studies failed to address the causes of knowledge gaps or propose solutions.

## Abstract

Breast cancer knowledge and the practice of breast self-examination among school students are crucial topics in health education due to the high incidence rate. However, there is little research on this subject. This systematic review aims to synthesize the empirical literature on the topic, analyzing and identifying patterns in the learning strategies and evaluation methodologies used. A systematic search, following the PRISMA method across the Scopus, Web of Science, and ERIC databases, found only six studies published between 2000 and 2021 that focused on school education. The results revealed a significant lack of explicit and detailed educational interventions. Only two studies included educational interventions, but both lacked specific methodological details, limiting the ability to assess their effectiveness and replicate the results. While cross-sectional studies are useful for evaluating general knowledge, they did not sufficiently explore the underlying causes of knowledge deficiencies, nor did they propose strategies to address them. There is an urgent need to develop detailed and well-documented educational interventions on breast cancer within school contexts. This review provides an initial foundation and suggests that future research should address the identified methodological gaps to effectively contribute to health education and breast cancer prevention in young populations.