Abstract
BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the existing knowledge, health beliefs, and practices related to breast cancer screening in a general population of Turkish women. METHODS: A total of 1514 women (mean±SD age: 32.5±13.6 years) were included voluntarily in this questionnaire-based survey. The questionnaire involved items on participant characteristics, knowledge on breast cancer, knowledge and practice on breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography, and the items on the Champion's Health Belief Model (CHBM). RESULTS: Overall, 23.8%, 32.7%, and 22.1% of women reported the monthly BSE practice, the previous CBE, and the previous mammography, respectively. On average, 72.8%, 74.0%, and 66.3% of participants responded correctly to the items related to risk factors, first symptoms, and early diagnosis of breast cancer, respectively. Overall, 38.0%, 52.7% and 44.0 % of participants had a good level of knowledge about the BSE, CBE, and mammography, respectively, while only 32.1% of women reported that they knew exactly how to perform BSE. The CHBM scores were moderate overall (median 159.0). CONCLUSION: Our findings in a group of Turkish women revealed insufficient knowledge about breast cancer and screening strategies and low rates of breast screening practice along with low scores on the perceived susceptibility and seriousness of breast cancer. There is a need for effective awareness campaigns and public health education and promotion interventions on breast cancer to improve the health-seeking behavior of women and thereby enable early reporting of symptoms and increase uptake of breast screening.