Background: Breast cancer is the most common preventable cancer among women. One of the ways of prevention and early detection of breast cancer is breast self-examination (BSE). Thus, we decided to conduct a study about the knowledge and attitude toward BSE among the students of Alzahra University, Iran. Methods: This was a cross-sectional analytical study in which 135 female students aging 18-26 years were enrolled using stratified random sampling. Data was collected by valid and reliable questionnaires. Descriptive statistics and chi-square test were used to analyze the data. Results: While most students (45.9%) had an average level of knowledge about BSE, married students were significantly more knowledgeable (P = 0.007). The majority of students (68.1%), especially older, married students and those with a positive family history of breast cancer, had more positive attitude about BSE. The most popular way of gaining information among students was mass media. Students who gained information from university books had significantly more knowledge than others (P < 0.001). Subjects who obtained information from mass media had more positive attitude than others (P = 0.04). In addition, students with more knowledge had significantly more positive attitude (P < 0.001). Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude about BSE is less than satisfactory even among university students. The values would probably be even less among the general female population in Iran. Proper and more intense educational programs about BSE should be scheduled even in higher education institutions.
Ahad Ashrafi Asgarabad, , Narges Khanjani, , Maryam Saber, , Sara Jalili, , & Esmail Khedmati, (2012). Knowledge and Attitude of Students at Alzahra University about Breast Self-Examination, Iran. Health and Development Journal, 1(2), 112-120.
MLA
Ahad Ashrafi Asgarabad; Narges Khanjani; Maryam Saber; Sara Jalili; Esmail Khedmati. "Knowledge and Attitude of Students at Alzahra University about Breast Self-Examination, Iran". Health and Development Journal, 1, 2, 2012, 112-120.
HARVARD
Ahad Ashrafi Asgarabad, , Narges Khanjani, , Maryam Saber, , Sara Jalili, , Esmail Khedmati, (2012). 'Knowledge and Attitude of Students at Alzahra University about Breast Self-Examination, Iran', Health and Development Journal, 1(2), pp. 112-120.
VANCOUVER
Ahad Ashrafi Asgarabad, , Narges Khanjani, , Maryam Saber, , Sara Jalili, , Esmail Khedmati, Knowledge and Attitude of Students at Alzahra University about Breast Self-Examination, Iran. Health and Development Journal, 2012; 1(2): 112-120.
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