Self-Examination and Knowledge of Breast Cancer Among Female Students

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Table of Contents

Introduction
The methodology used for the study
The findings of the study
Conclusion of the study
Personal reflection
Conclusion
Reference

Introduction

The incidence of breast cancer is increasing yet it is a preventable disease. Breast cancer differs from other cancers because it is easier to detect it at the early stage and treat it. Breast cancer is prevalent in many parts of the world because many people lack knowledge about the risk factors, screening processes, and management. Although nurses encourage clients to practice breast self-examination, they usually forget to inquire if the clients know the process or have some difficulties in performing the procedure. Therefore, many clients do not perform breast self-examination yet it is a simple and inexpensive procedure because they do not know what to do. According to recent research, breast cancer incidence has increased in Korea, affecting women who are less than thirty-five years. This paper will review research done about breast cancer.

It was a cross-sectional study and the researchers were Kyung Rim Shin ED D, RN, FAAN, FAAN, Hyo Jung Park Ph.D., RN, and Mijung Kim Ph.D. candidate, RN. The purpose of the study was to determine if young women performed breast self-examination and if they had any knowledge regarding breast cancer. The research involved two thousand one hundred and eighty-six female students in the university. The researchers found out that most of the young female university students lacked knowledge about breast cancer and they did not perform breast self-examination. They concluded that the university curriculum should include training about breast cancer.

The methodology used for the study

Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study. The study instruments were knowledge scales for assessing the level of knowledge about breast cancer and questionnaires for evaluating the practice of breast self-examination. The study population was Korean women in the universities. The inclusion criterion was any consenting female student who attended a five-year college or two-year community university and lived within the specified geographical areas. The exclusion criterion was any non-consenting student.

The sampling method was probability quota sampling. Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) divided Korea into five areas and estimated the number of participants to be included in the study via analysis of the number of students who came from a particular region. They came up with a target population of two thousand two hundred and forty-two students and collected data by interviewing them using the knowledge scales and questionnaires.

The researcher analyzed the collected data using a computer program known as SPSS and presented it in tables. The design problem that Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) encountered was that some students who qualified to be included in the study refused to participate. As a result, the selected sample dropped by fifty-six students. The ethical consideration that Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) considered was that they got a written authority from Ewha Women University in Korea. They explained the relevance and usefulness of the research to the participants. The participants were told the kind of information to be collected and how they were to participate in the study. Finally, the researchers obtained informed consent from the participants.

The findings of the study

Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) described the demographic nature of the participants. Most of the participants were single, of middle to high socioeconomic status, and in their first to fourth semesters. Approximately half of the participants belonged to a certain religion and were doing a course in natural science. Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) found that a quarter of the participants practiced breast self-examination and a half had knowledge regarding breast cancer.

The study assessed knowledge regarding breast cancer among students pursuing courses in humanities, natural sciences, art, and physical education. Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) found that half of the aforementioned students knew about breast cancer. Approximately fifty percent of the participants knew the risk factors for breast cancer and they included stress, age, and genetics. Concerning the manifestations and treatment of the disease, seventy percent of the participants knew that the common feature was breast enlargement. Only forty percent of the participants were aware that breast cancer can be cured if detected early and the treatment of choice was always chemotherapy. Concerning prevention, seventy percent of the participants were aware that early screening through mammograms is imperative and those women who are more than forty years should be checked twice a year. Most of the participants had poor knowledge about the effect of genetics on breast cancer. Although most of them knew that a history of breast and ovarian cancer in the family predisposes one to breast cancer, only forty percent knew the role of cancer genes in the development of the disease.

About breast self-examination, Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) found that approximately seventy percent of the participants had never performed the examination. They gave a variety of reasons that included knowledge deficit, fear, complicated procedure, and lack of time. The study illustrated that there was no association between breast self-examination among the participants and their characteristics. This means that marital status, economic status, religion, school year, history, and knowledge of breast cancer have no impact on the practice of breast self-examination.

Conclusion of the study

Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) concluded that young females lack knowledge about breast cancer and breast self-examination. They suggested that universities should develop a curriculum about breast cancer and breast self-examination to empower young females with the knowledge and skills. This would assist in health promotion and disease prevention. They proposed that other researchers should conduct a similar study in other areas of the world to increase the validity and reliability of the research. Finally, there should be a follow-up study to measure the effect of education regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination.

Personal reflection

The study cannot be generalized because it involved a small sample size. It involved young females who were in the university, thus, they could be knowing breast cancer and breast self-examination by the virtue of their intellectual capacity. Although the knowledge assessment tool was pretested, it is difficult to compare the findings of this study with other research done in the same area. On the other hand, Shin, Park & Mijung (2012) did not pretest the questionnaire that they used for assessing the practice of self breast-examination. As a result, it could have some errors, which might have interfered with the findings of the study. Finally, the study was subjected to the Hawthorne effect because there is a high chance that some participants did not tell the truth during the data collection process. Therefore, this study may not be a true representation of the situation in Korea regarding knowledge regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination.

The inadequate knowledge about breast cancer and breast self-examination in females in Korean universities is an indication of ignorance in the community. This is because students usually have more knowledge than the community does about health matters. Consequently, nurses should be aggressive in creating awareness about breast cancer. Nurses should educate every client and patient about the prevention of breast cancer. They should also show the female clients and patients the technique of breast self-examination and allow them to do a return demonstration. This will assist the nurse to know if the clients and patients have acquired the right concept. Nurses can work collaboratively with universities by introducing peer training about breast cancer and providing screening services to female students. The training will ensure that all students get information about breast cancer while screening will assist in early diagnosis and treatment. Nurses can exploit social networks like Twitter and disseminate information about breast cancer.

Conclusion

After the analysis of the research done, I have learned that breast cancer is a killer disease if not detected early and managed. Secondly, most female university students are ignorant about breast cancer yet they should be educating society. As a nurse, I will campaign for awareness of breast cancer by making brochures and distributing them to every person that I come across and informing them about preventive measures.

The learning issue that I have identified for further development is that nurses should learn the art and skills of the therapeutic relationship. This will enhance the interaction with the patients. As a result, the nurse will be free to discuss issues about breast cancer with the clients.

Reference

Shin, K., Park, H., & Mijung, K. (2012). Practice of Breast Self-Examination and Knowledge of Breast Cancer Among Female University Students in Korea. Nursing and Health Sciences , 14 (1), 292-297.

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