Knowledge and Source of Information About Early Detection Techniques of Breast Cancer Among Women in Iran: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND: An increase of access to knowledge about early detection techniques of breast cancer can reduce this mortality rate. This study aimed to determine the knowledge and source of information about early detection techniques of breast cancer among Iranian women. METHODS: Both International (PubMed, Web of Science, and Google Scholar) and national (scientific information database [SID] and Magiran) databases were reviewed launching to September, 2017 to obtain related articles. Steps involving the screening, analysis of quality of the studies and extraction of papers were performed by two researchers. RESULTS: Of the 749 studies searched initially, 25 studies performed on 11,756 people were selected for the final stage. General knowledge for breast cancer screening among women ranged from 4.5% to 45%. The number of people with sufficient knowledge about breast self-examination in various studies was between 5% and 79.8%. The most important source of information was the Healthcare team. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the poor knowledge and different source of information, it is suggested that educational programs be conducted around the country especially in at-risk populations.