Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
50th ESCP Symposium on Clinical Pharmacy, Polypharmacy and Ageing - Highly Individualized, Interprofessional, Person-centered Care, 19 - 21 Ekim 2022, cilt.44, ss.1477-1478
Clinical pharmacists’ effects on women’s awareness and knowledge of breast cancer
Background and Objective: Breast cancer (BC) is the most frequent (23%) type of cancer in women and more than 502,000 women die from it (1). Because of BC develops in a visible organ, it can be diagnosed and treated at an early stage (2). It is critical that all women have a basic understanding of BC in order to receive early diagnosis and treatment. On the other hand, it has been shown that late detection is primarily attributable to a lack of public awareness and hurdles to health care access (1, 3). As the most regularly visited health care professionals, pharmacists can act a substantial role in early discernment of breast cancer’s symptoms among women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of education provided by clinical pharmacist on women’s awareness, knowledge and attitudes about BC and to assess women’s willingness to have education.
Method: It was a pilot study conducted in a community pharmacy between 1 - 10 August 2021 with the participation of women 18 – 65 years old. Breast cancer awareness scale (BCAS) and additional questions were applied via face to face. After primary data is collected the clinical pharmacist provided a brief education via brochure consisting information about BC. One month after education BCAS was repeated to evaluate the success of education.
Main outcome measures: Sociodemographic characteristics, family history and attitudes of participants. Assessment of BCAS and education.
Results: 41 women with a mean age of 46.12±3.36 were participated. Only 2 (4.9%) of the participants were diagnosed with BC and 8 (19.5%) of the participants’ family member were diagnosed with BC. 16 (39%) of the participants had mammogram. 18 (43.9%) of the women had clinical breast examination whereas 11 (26.8%) of the participants didn’t even do a self breast examination. Only 4 (9.8%) women got education about BC and 1 (2.4%) woman consulted her pharmacist. On the other hand 33 (80.5%) of the participants declared that they would like to get an education from their pharmacist and 29 (70.7%) of them stated that they would join to an education session if their pharmacist provide. 41 (100%) of the participants admitted that they would go to physician if their pharmacists notice a risky situation and direct them to a doctor. Before patient education the participants’ mean scores from the signs and symptom subscale was 14.62 ± 1.82 and from attitude about preventing BC subscale was 25.83 ± 3.31. After education the mean scores were determined as 15.36 ± 0.75 and 26.78 ± 3.25, respectively.
Conclusion: After patient education, statistically significant score increase was determined. This indicates that education given by the clinical pharmacist is effective in developing communities’ awareness, knowledge and attitudes. In addition participants were willingness to have education from the pharmacist too. Pharmacists can combine their advantages of being easily accessible with womens’ willingness and thereby contribute to the development of BC awareness and early diagnosis in the community.
References: 1. Alshareef B, et al. Breast cancer awareness among female school teachers in Saudi Arabia: A population based survey. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2020;21(2):337-342. 2. Tas¸c¸i A, Usta YY. Comparison of knowledge and practices of breast self-examination (BSE): A pilot study in Turkey. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2010;11:1417–20. 3. Abulkhair OA, Al Tahan FM, et al. The first national public breast cancer screening program in Saudi Arabia. Ann Saudi Med. 2010;30:350–7.
Disclosure of Interest: None Declared.