Knowledge, attitude, and performance of women referring health care centers in Kashan towards breast cancer and its screening tests

Breast cancer has been increased rapidly during the recent decades, however, self examination and clinical evaluation have been revealed to be effective for early diagnosis. The present study was conducted to determine knowledge, attitude, and performance of women referring health care centers in Kashan towards breast cancer and its screening tests. For this descriptive study 400 women were selected through a cluster sampling. Then, initial data such as age, marital status, educational level, occupation, familial history of breast cancer, self examination training, and other breast related diseases were recorded meanwhile knowledge and attitude were considered and performance was surveyed by direct observation. The mean (± SD) age of women was 29.7 ±7.9. The vast majority of participants were housewives, married and had under diploma education. Poor knowledge of breast cancer was revealed in 43%.,however, negative attitude and poor performance were observed in 5.5% and 65.3% of women, respectively. Better performance is achieved by increment in knowledge. Most of the women had poor knowledge and performance regarding the breast cancer and its screening test. With respect to the importance and efficacy of self-examination in early diagnosis we highly suggest educational programs to promote knowledge, attitude, and performance towards the breast cancer.