Psychometric Properties of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (Breast-CAM): A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

TL;DR

This study evaluates the reliability and accuracy of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (Breast-CAM) across different populations to guide its use in breast cancer education and prevention.

Contribution

The study provides the first comprehensive evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Breast-CAM using COSMIN standards across diverse cultural adaptations.

Findings

The pooled Cronbach’s α estimate was 0.89, indicating good internal consistency but limited by insufficient structural validity in many adaptations.

Key psychometric properties like reliability and measurement error were often inadequately assessed or unreported.

Content validity was sufficient, but overall certainty of evidence ranged from very low to moderate.

Abstract

Breast cancer is a major health concern for women worldwide, and early detection greatly improves survival. Awareness of breast cancer symptoms, risk factors, and screening helps women seek timely medical care. The Breast Cancer Awareness Measure is a commonly used questionnaire to assess how well women understand these important aspects of breast cancer. Despite its widespread use, the quality of evidence supporting this tool has not been comprehensively evaluated. This study aims to systematically review and combine existing research on how accurately and reliably the Breast Cancer Awareness Measure assesses breast cancer awareness among adult women. By summarizing and evaluating the available evidence, this research provides clear guidance on the strengths and limitations of this tool. The findings may support researchers, healthcare professionals, and policymakers in developing multidisciplinary breast cancer education, prevention, and early detection strategies.

Background/Objectives: Breast cancer awareness is essential for early detection and timely help-seeking among women and represents a key component of multidisciplinary breast cancer prevention. The Breast Cancer Awareness Measure (Breast-CAM) is widely used to assess awareness of breast cancer symptoms, risk factors, and screening behaviors. Its measurement quality across populations has not yet been comprehensively evaluated. As Breast-CAM is a population-reported measurement instrument, evaluation using a standardized framework for measurement properties is required. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the psychometric properties of the Breast-CAM across diverse populations and cultural adaptations, in accordance with COSMIN (COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments) methodological standards. Methods: Major bibliographic databases and trial registries were systematically searched for peer-reviewed English-language studies published between 2010 and 2025 that evaluated at least one psychometric property of the Breast-CAM in adult women. Methodological quality was assessed using the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist. Measurement properties were evaluated according to COSMIN criteria, and the certainty of evidence was graded using a modified GRADE approach. Meta-analysis was performed when data were sufficiently comparable. Results: Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for narrative synthesis, of which eleven were included in a meta-analysis, representing fourteen cultural adaptations of the instrument. A descriptive random-effects meta-analysis of reported Cronbach’s α yielded a pooled estimate of 0.89 (95% confidence interval 0.85–0.92). This value should be interpreted cautiously, as structural validity was frequently insufficient across cultural adaptations, limiting interpretation of internal consistency according to COSMIN guidance. Other measurement properties, including reliability and measurement error, were frequently inadequately assessed or unreported. The certainty of evidence ranged from very low to moderate. Conclusions: Content validity was generally rated as sufficient, although certainty of evidence was low. Despite the high pooled α estimate, the reliability of Breast-CAM cannot be firmly established because structural validity was frequently insufficient across cultural adaptations. In accordance with the COSMIN ceiling rule, internal consistency was not considered sufficient in the absence of adequate structural validity. Key measurement properties, including test–retest reliability, measurement error, and responsiveness, were rarely evaluated. Further high-quality psychometric studies, particularly in culturally diverse populations, are needed to address these gaps and support appropriate use of the instrument in research and public health practice.

Figures