A pre-experimental prospective study to assess the knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination among nursing students in New Delhi, India

ABSTRACT Background: As per the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) approximations, there were 19.3 million cancer cases worldwide in 2020, and approximately 10 million cancer cases were from low- and middle-income countries. Breast cancer accounts for a quarter (23%) of malignancy in women worldwide. Breast health awareness and commitment to screening procedures can help reduce the cancer burden. Objectives: The primary aim of this study was to assess nursing students’ knowledge of the early detection of breast cancer. Furthermore, we conducted an educational program to demonstrate the correct technique for the self-examination of breast cancer. Our secondary goal was to assess the knowledge of breast self-examination before and after the planned teaching program. Material and Methods: This pre-experimental prospective study was conducted at the Department of Nursing at the Lakshmi Bai Batra College of Nursing, New Delhi, India. Participants answered a structured questionnaire (r, 0.80) and participated in an educational program. A post-test was administered after the pretest and teaching program. Results: We enrolled 30 nursing students. Prior to the scheduled educational program, the participants were evaluated for their knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination; the mean and standard deviation for knowledge of breast cancer was 5.3 ± 1.3. Knowledge of breast self-examination significantly increased after the planned teaching program ( P , 0.050). Conclusions: The nursing students in the study lacked appropriate knowledge of breast cancer and breast self-examination. Following the delivery of the suggested instructional program, the nursing students’ knowledge improved.