Assessment of the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Breast Self-Examination in Among GNM Nursing Students in Selected School of Nursing, Vrindavan, Mathura

Abstract

Breast self-examination is a simple, very low cost, non-invasive with no special material/tool requirements; and it is an effective diagnostic method for breast cancer which only takes five minutes to apply. Women should do a breast self-exam once a month, every month. Women who are still menstruating (having a regular period) should perform a breast self-exam after their period. Monthly breast self-exams can help one to detect changes that may be signs of infection or breast cancer such as breast lumps or spots that feel different. When breast cancer is detected early, the chances for survival are much better. Objectives -1. To assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding Breast Self-Examination among GNM students. 2. To associate knowledge level of students regarding Breast Self-Examination with selected demographic variables. Operational definitions; Breast self-examination: Monthly examination of breasts conducted by women following the five major steps of breast self-examination which include: examining both the breasts for size, shape, colour and contour while looking in front of the mirror with their arms straight, on the hips, and over the head; to palpate or feel the breast both in standing and lying position using the three finger pads. Knowledge: It means the facts/condition of knowing something with familiarity gained through experience or association. In this study, knowledge refers to awareness of nursing students regarding breast self-examination as measured by a structured knowledge questionnaire on breast self-examination.  Nursing student: Female nursing students are those females who are studying nursing in School of Nursing in selected Nursing School of Vrindavan. Methodology: A Descriptive Research Design was undertaken for this study. The population of the study consists of Nursing Students in selected nursing school in Vrindavan, Mathura. The knowledge, attitude and practice were assessed. The sample size of 50 were selected by using non probability convenient sampling. Results: The study targeted Female Nursing students at of selected School of Nursing, Vrindavan, Mathura 50 students participated in the study and the results of statistical analysis are presented into main four sections. The first section presents the assessment base line characteristics of the studied sample, the second section present the assessment of knowledge level of BSE, the third section present the assessment of the student’s attitude level of BSE, and the fourth section present the relationship between the total mean knowledge of BSE and selected variables. Revealed that a highly statistically significant relation between age groups and academic level with total mean knowledge of BSE (P>0.00). Also, it was revealed that no statistically significant relation between total mean knowledge of BSE and family history with breast cancer and source of information of breast BSE and residence area.