Authors (including presenting author) :
LAU YC(1), WONG L(1), WONG KY(2), CHUN OK(3), LEUNG YLJ(4), CHAN CSA(5), CHOI FC(6), CHOY WY(7), LAU CM(8), NG HY(9), TSANG WF(10), YIP ML(11)
Affiliation :
(1)Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, (2)Department of Surgery, United Christian Hospital, (3)Department of Surgery, Kwong Wah Hospital, (4)Department of Surgery, Tseung Kwan O Hospital, (5)Department of Surgery, North District Hospital, (6)Department of Surgery, Yan Chai Hospital, (7)Department of Surgery, Princess Margaret Hospital, (8)Department of Surgery, Ruttonjee & Tang Shiu Kin Hospitals, (9)Department of Surgery, Caritas Medical Centre, (10)Department of Surgery, Pok Oi Hospital, (11)Department of Surgery, Pamela Youde Nethersole Eastern Hospital
Introduction :
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Hong Kong with over 5100 new cases of breast cancer in 2022. The five-year relative survival rate for stage I and II breast cancer is over 94%, decreases to 76% for stage III cancer and further dropped to around 30% for stage IV cancer. Early detection and prompt treatment saves lives. Therefore, every woman should be breast aware and familiar with the normal look and feel of her breasts and seek medical advice promptly if there is any abnormality over breasts and axilla is detected. To enhance the knowledge about breast awareness among Hong Kong women, an education leaflet is produced by Breast Care Subgroup of Specialty Advisory Group (Surgery & Neurosurgery). A study is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the leaflet.
Objectives :
The objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of an education leaflet designed to enhance knowledge about breast awareness among Hong Kong women
Methodology :
A quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study design were conducted. Female patients were recruited in breast surgery specialist out-patient clinic (SOPD) in 7 clusters of the Hospital Authority from April 2024 to August 2024. Participants were invited to fill in a pre-test questionnaire including demographic data and breast awareness related knowledge. After viewing an education leaflet about knowledge of breast awareness which consists of risk factors, signs and symptoms of breast cancer and what to do if abnormality detected over breasts and axilla, participants were invited to fill in the post-test questionnaire again. The score of the questionnaire ranges from 0 to 21. Paired T-tests were conducted to evaluate the change in the score of pre-test and post-test.
Result & Outcome :
Results
A total of 213 women completed the questionnaire. The mean score of pre-test is 12.3 and that of post-test is 17.7 which shows a significant increase (p<0.01). Reviewing the result of study, score increased most in the difference between breast awareness and breast self-examination (from 25% to 62%), risk factors of breast cancer including lack of exercise (from 35% to 80%), currently receiving hormonal replacement therapy (from 56% to 83%) and post-menopause obesity (from 38% to 85%). Regarding the definition of breast awareness, more participants can choose the correct answer (from 44% to 64%), but still around 18% participant thinks that monthly breast self-examination is equal to breast awareness. Participants also enhanced knowledge in method of performing examination (from 41% to 87%), signs and symptoms of breast cancer including newly developed nipple retraction (from 67% to 88%), eczema-like changes over nipple (from 34% to 75%) and what to do if breast lump is noted (from 57% to 87%).
Conclusion
The increase in mean score showed that the education leaflet is effective to enhance the knowledge of breast awareness among Hong Kong women. The leaflet is suggested to be used as a tool in breast awareness promotion to facilitate early detection of breast cancer. Apart from using leaflet as an information delivery method, Breast Care Subgroup of Specialty Advisory Group (Surgery & Neurosurgery) also produced a breast awareness video with information of local advice of breast cancer screening added.
Way forward
We will also explore the possibility to deliver the leaflet and video to patients through the HA mobile app - HA GO spontaneously once the patient registered in clinic.
