Keywords
Knowledge
Attitude
Practice
Nursing students
Awareness
Pakistan
How to Cite
Abstract
Background: Breast cancer is the most common malignancy affecting women worldwide and a leading cause of mortality. In Pakistan, one in nine women is at risk, with a large proportion of cases diagnosed at advanced stages due to poor awareness, cultural barriers, and inadequate screening practices. Nursing students, as future healthcare providers, play a vital role in promoting awareness and early detection strategies, yet their knowledge, attitude, and practices remain underexplored.
Aim: The study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practice of female undergraduate nursing students regarding breast cancer at nursing colleges in Lahore, Pakistan.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 133 female undergraduate nursing students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using an adopted structured questionnaire assessing knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) related to breast cancer. Descriptive statistics, including frequency distributions and percentages, were applied using SPSS version 23 to analyze the data.
Results: Findings revealed that 45.1% of participants had low knowledge, 24.1% had moderate knowledge, and 30.8% demonstrated high knowledge about breast cancer. Attitudes were mixed, with 54.1% showing positive attitudes while 45.9% reflected negative attitudes influenced by cultural and religious beliefs. Practices were suboptimal, with only 30.8% performing breast self-examination and 25.6% undergoing clinical breast examination. Barriers included lack of knowledge, embarrassment, and misconceptions about the disease.
Conclusion: The study concluded that knowledge and practices toward breast cancer among nursing students were inadequate, despite generally positive attitudes. Targeted educational interventions, skill-based training, and culturally sensitive awareness strategies are essential to strengthen their role in breast cancer prevention and early detection.