Research on Awareness of Public Health Nurses and Nurses Involved in Breast Cancer Screening

Education in breast self-examination (BSE) and diseases of the breast including risk factors of breast cancer has become indispensable for early detection of breast cancer. We carried out a questionnaire survey of female workers at public health centers and general medical institutions and other women from various backgrounds to evaluate recognition of BSE, performance of BSE, history of breast screening, and breast diseases. As of June 30, 1998, 202 females had replied to the questionnaire. These included 114 public health nurses and nurses, of whom 34 were directly involved in screening for breast cancer (direct group), and 26 were indirectly involved (indirect group). Even in the direct group working at public health centers who had to give BSE instruction and education to examinees in screening, the rate of recognition of BSE was not 100% ; only 61% performed BSE, and only 42% did so monthly. Furthermore, even in this group, only 69% had knowledge of the symptoms of breast diseases, 62% had knowledge of examination methods, and 40% had knowledge of therapy. These results suggest that interest in and knowledge about breast diseases, including details of BSE and risk factors, should first be improved on the examiner's side to make examinees proficient in BSE and adequately understand breast diseases.