A Pilot Study: Practice of Breast Self-Examination and it’s Relation to Knowledge and Attitude among Women Attending Out-Patient Clinic in Northern Penang

Abstract

The main purpose of this study is to access the knowledge, attitude, and practice of breast self-examination (BSE) among women attending an out-patient clinic in northern Penang. The methods used in this study are cross-sectional survey of randomly sampled 71 female attendees of the out-patient clinic conducted on self-answer questionnaire. Decision on which sample to include were taken independently by the authors based on the methods of a study. Data were analysed by using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 23. Result showed 75% of selected respondents ever practice BSE but only 31.0% practiced it monthly as recommended. Women who practice BSE were mostly never married and at least a diploma holder compared to women who do not practice BSE. Total mean score for knowledge was 3.95 and their major sources of knowledge on BSE among the women was from doctors or nurses (60.6%). Total mean score for attitude among these women was 2.88 where majority of them did not take any action since the breast abnormalities did not show any sign. However, 77% have shown that they were taught on technique to perform BSE on their own. This study also revealed that there is a significant association between education level and knowledge regarding BSE (p=0.001). Result also shown a significant mean difference between education level and practice based on BSE (p<0.001). However, there is no significant association between education level and attitude (p=0.271). On determining the relationship between knowledge, attitude and practice, result has shown that there is no relationship between knowledge and attitude but there is a significant relationship between knowledge and practice regarding performing the BSE technique (p=0.377 and p<0.05 respectively). Moreover, there is no significant relationship between attitude and practice where p-value>0.05. As a conclusion, even if the respondents were high educated women, they normally did not take any action towards BSE compared to those who had lower education level.