Objective: Analyzing formal knowledge about breast cancer (BC) issues that medical and nursing students receive from different syllabuses and courses during their undergraduate studies.
Materials and methods: This exploratory study was conducted in 2009; it was based on semi-structured interviews applied to key stakeholders and complemented by an analysis of their undergraduate courses. The study population consisted of 199 Faculties and Schools of Medicine and 108 Schools and Colleges of Nursing and the unit of analysis consisted of the syllabuses for the undergraduate courses.
Results: 16.8% of the medical courses and 6.3% of the nursing courses had specific information about BC. Medical students predominantly received their training in biomedical and clinical areas and the socio-medical area to a lesser extent. The issues in nursing courses was mainly focused (in community areas) on promoting health and preventing disease (healthy lifestyles and recognition of women at high risk regarding BC).
Discussion: Little evidence was found that medicine and nursing syllabuses contain issues related to BC. Medical and nursing curricula should be strengthened to improve professional skills and abilities related to BC to solve the affected population's problems and health needs, particularly regarding primary and secondary prevention.