TY - JOUR ID - 57603 TI - Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regarding Breast Cancer amongst Lebanese Females in Beirut JO - Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention JA - APJCP LA - en SN - 1513-7368 AU - El Asmar, Margueritta AU - Bechnak, Amer AU - Fares, Johny AU - Al Oweini, Dana AU - Al Razim, Ahmad AU - El Achkar, Adnan AU - Tamim, Hani AD - Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon. AD - Clinical Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon. Y1 - 2018 PY - 2018 VL - 19 IS - 3 SP - 625 EP - 631 KW - Barriers KW - breast cancer KW - Screening KW - Mammogram KW - KAP DO - 10.22034/APJCP.2018.19.3.625 N2 - Objectives: Regular screening for breast cancer is associated with better survival, but compliance with guidelinesdepends on good knowledge and attitudes. This study aimed to assess the level of breast cancer knowledge, attitudesand screening practices in Lebanese females, and identify their socio-demographic determinants as well as barriers tomammography use. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted with 371 Lebanese females residing in Beirutaged 18-65 with no history of breast cancer. The questionnaire applied was adapted from Stager and Champion.The overall knowledge score was determined with sections on general knowledge, curability, symptoms, and screening;the overall attitude score concerned attitudes towards breast cancer, screening, and barriers; and the overall practicesscore was for breast self examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography. Bivariate andmultivariate analyses of socioeconomic determinants were performed for each score. Results: The mean knowledgescore was 55.5±17.1% and that for attitudes was 71.9±8.3%. For self-examination, mammography and clinicalexamination practices, individual means were 45.7±42.3%, 77.9±36.5% and 29.1±45.5%, respectively. Knowledge,attitudes and practices correlated positively with each other (p<0.0001). The highest average was the knowledgeof symptoms (72.8±24.7%), and the lowest that of curability (49.6±25.7%). Most frequent barriers to mammographywere fear of learning bad news, pain, costs, and staff unpleasantness. Higher education was associated with betterknowledge (p=0.002) and smoking with lower levels (p=0.003). Older age (p=0.002), higher education (p=0.02),and taking exercise (p=0.02) were associated with better attitudes. Higher education (p=0.02) and having children(p=0.003) were associated with better practices. Conclusion: More emphasis should be placed on educating femaleson the curability of breast cancer and specific targeting of the barriers identified. UR - https://journal.waocp.org/article_57603.html L1 - https://journal.waocp.org/article_57603_112c4134821520d4e351013ef5890505.pdf ER -