Awareness of breast cancer screening and risk factors among Saudi females at family medicine department in security forces hospital, Riyadh

OBJECTIVES: To describe the level of knowledge about breast cancer screening and breast cancer risk factors according to sociodemographic characteristics and to know the most common source of their knowledge among the females participating in this study. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional descriptive study conducted through distributing validated pretested Arabic questionnaire. The sample are Saudi adult females age 18–55 years attending the Family Medicine Department at Security Forces Hospital for healthcare services or accompanying patients. RESULTS: Of 384 participants, 57% were aware that lump or thickening in the breast could be a sign of breast cancer and 68% knew bleeding or discharge from nipple as a warning sign of breast cancer. Fortunately, 291 women (75.8%) have a good knowledge about breast cancer risk factors, and only 93 women (24.4%) have poor knowledge. Regarding knowledge about the screening of breast cancer, 60.9% knew breast self-examination and clinical breast examination (CBE) are the methods of early detection of breast cancer. About 53.1% of women have heard about CBE. CONCLUSION: All the participants showed sufficient knowledge about the risk factors and symptoms of breast cancer but insufficient knowledge about screening methods. These findings are encouraging for public awareness about how to screen themselves and guidance to health authorities for developing effective breast healthcare programs in the entire Kingdom for the all-female population.