Result of randomized control trial to increase breast health awareness among young females in Malaysia

• Published in: BMC public health 2016-08, Vol.16 (1), p.738-738, Article 738
• Main Authors: Akhtari-Zavare, Mehrnoosh, Juni, Muhamad Hanafiah, Said, Salmiah Md, Ismail, Irmi Zarina, Latiff, Latiffah A, Ataollahi Eshkoor, Sima
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Analysis; Awareness; Belief; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Breast Neoplasms - psychology; Breast self-examination; Breast Self-Examination - psychology; Breast Self-Examination - statistics & numerical data; Chi-square test; Clinical trials; College students; Colleges & universities; Control methods; Education; Female; Females; Health; Health aspects; Health education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health promotion; Health Promotion - methods; Humans; Intervention; Knowledge; Malaysia; Mammography; Medical screening; Prevention; Public health; Questionnaires; Randomization; Risk factors; Silicon; Single-Blind Method; Statistical tests; Students; Students - psychology; Studies; Task forces; Universities; Variance analysis; Women; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1471-2458; 1471-2458
• DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3414-1

Breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second principal cause of cancer deaths in women worldwide as well as in Malaysia. Breast self-examination (BSE) has a role in raising breast cancer awareness among women and educational programs play an important role in breast cancer preventive behavior. The aim of this study is to develop, implement and evaluate the effectiveness of Breast Health Awareness program based on health belief model on knowledge of breast cancer and breast-selfexamination and BSE practice among female students in Malaysia. A single-blind randomized controlled trial was carried out among 370 female undergraduate students from January 2011 to April 2012 in two selected public universities in Malaysia. Participants were randomized to either the intervention group or the control group. The educational program was delivered to the intervention group. The outcome measures were assessed at baseline, 6, and 12 months after implementing the health educational program. Chi-square, independent samples t-test and two-way repeated measures ANOVA (GLM) were conducted in the course of the data analyses. Mean scores of knowledge on breast cancer (p