Awareness And Practice of Student Nurses on Breast Self Examination: A Risk Assessment Tool For Breast Cancer

International Journal of Nursing and Health Science

© 2020 by SSRG - IJNHS Journal

Volume 6 Issue 1

Year of Publication : 2020

Authors : Brotobor Deliverance, Edeawe Isaac Osahogie, Brotobor Onoriode

10.14445/24547484/IJNHS-V6I1P109

How to Cite?

Brotobor Deliverance, Edeawe Isaac Osahogie, Brotobor Onoriode, "Awareness And Practice of Student Nurses on Breast Self Examination: A Risk Assessment Tool For Breast Cancer," SSRG International Journal of Nursing and Health Science, vol. 6,  no. 1, pp. 66-69, 2020. Crossref, https://doi.org/10.14445/24547484/IJNHS-V6I1P109

Abstract:

A. Background : Breast cancer is termed the second most common cancer. Breast-self examination (BSE) is a risk assessment tool for early detection of breast cancer, and though, its effectiveness is still controversial. However, it is important to spread its awareness since it is a risk-free, non-invasive, and cost-effective practice. It is important to educate women because awareness will enhance practice and help in the early detection and early treatment of breast cancer, one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in women.
B. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the nursing department of the Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma, Edo State. 191 clinical Nursing students were enrolled in the study within a period of three weeks.
C. Findings: The majority of the participants (86%) reported having heard about breast-self examination (BSE), while 14% claimed to have no knowledge of breast self-examination. Among the participants, 71% know that breast-self examination is done by an individual to check for anomalies in the breast, 25% no had an idea on who should perform the check, while 4% reported knowing that the breast-self examination is done by doctors. Participants were asked if they have ever performed the breast-self examination. 64% answered “yes” while 36 answered “no”. But, 50% stated that they perform it once in a while, 21% stated monthly, 14% stated weekly, and 15% stated daily. When further asked at what time in the menstrual cycle they perform the breast-self examination, 67% stated they perform at random, 13% stated a week after menstruation, 8% during, and 12% before menstruation. Notwithstanding, some participants (47%) reported they could not remember the last time they performed the breast-self examination, while 46% indicated the recent regular practice of breast self-examination.
D. Conclusion: The majority knew about BSE, but not all that knew it knows the accurate way it should be done nor practiced it regularly. The majority of the student nurses got their information from the internet and social media. This negatively impacted their practice of BSE. Therefore, since the internet has taken a large part of people’s lives, student nurses should be directed to the right databases to search for quality information, as this would greatly influence their practice.

Keywords:

Breast, cancer, self-examination, risk factor, awareness, practice

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