Perceptions of breast awareness

Abstract

Perceptions of Breast Awareness The concept of breast-care awareness is a recent term, and differs from breast self-examination. The research-based literature on breast self-examination is abundant, but there seem to be no research studies exploring breast awareness. Therefore, a small-scale study using a descriptive research design was undertaken with the purpose of examining what women know, how they perceive and what they understand about breast-care awareness, and if they would comply with this preventive behaviour. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to twenty-seven females enrolled in their first-year as student nurses. The findings suggest that nursing students have some knowledge both of risk factors, and of what breast-care awareness implies and how it is practiced. Information was mostly sought from the media, friends or relatives and health professionals. Moreover, it appears that there is a knowledge-practice gap, especially between how these students perceived and understood breast-care awareness and the degree to which it was practised. As a result of the findings, recommendation for local practice are suggested.