Among adult women aged 18 and older in Turkiye, 66.7% reported ability to perform breast self-examination, but only 19.3% performed it regularly every month.
Cross-Sectional (n=481)
No
Despite high general awareness of breast cancer, regular breast self-examination practices remain low, and healthcare professionals showed unexpected gaps in specific knowledge regarding treatment options compared to non-healthcare individuals.
Aims: Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among women globally. This study aimed to assess the level of awareness regarding breast cancer and breast self-examination (BSE) practices among women, and to explore the influence of professional background specifically employment in healthcare on awareness levels, as well as the associations between awareness and demographic variables.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted between August and September 2025 at a tertiary healthcare institution. A total of 481 women aged 18 years and older were recruited through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire that evaluated sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge about breast cancer, BSE practice behaviors, and screening awareness. Results: While 66.7% of participants reported the ability to perform BSE, only 19.3% engaged in regular monthly practice. Knowledge concerning the optimal timing and conditions for BSE was suboptimal, reported by 38.3% and 43.2% of participants, respectively. A statistically significant positive correlation was observed between age and awareness level (p
Akgün et al. (Fri,) conducted a cross-sectional in Adult women aged 18 years and older without prior breast cancer diagnosis residing in or receiving healthcare in a Turkish province (n=481). Among adult women aged 18 and older in Turkiye, 66.7% reported ability to perform breast self-examination, but only 19.3% performed it regularly every month.