Knowledge of Non-Invasive Biomarkers of Breast Cancer, Risk Factors, and BSE Practices Among Nursing Undergraduates in Farasan Island, KSA

Shabihul Fatma Sayed; Hamad G Dailah; Sumathi Nagarajan; Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab; Shaived S Hasan Abadi; Nida Akhtar; Gulrana Khuwaja; Wadeah Ali DA Malham

doi:10.1177/23779608241248519

Knowledge of Non-Invasive Biomarkers of Breast Cancer, Risk Factors, and BSE Practices Among Nursing Undergraduates in Farasan Island, KSA

SAGE Open Nurs. 2024 Apr 26:10:23779608241248519. doi: 10.1177/23779608241248519. eCollection 2024 Jan-Dec.

Authors

Shabihul Fatma Sayed¹, Hamad G Dailah², Sumathi Nagarajan¹, Siddig Ibrahim Abdelwahab³, Shaived S Hasan Abadi⁴, Nida Akhtar⁵, Gulrana Khuwaja⁶, Wadeah Ali DA Malham⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Nursing, Farasan University College, Jazan University, Jazan, KSA.
² Department of Nursing, College of Nursing, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
³ Medical Research Centre, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
⁴ Department of Pharmacy, Apeejay Stya University, Gurugram, Haryana, India.
⁵ Department of Nursing, Al-Dayer College, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
⁶ Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
⁷ Department of Nursing, Farasan University College, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background of the study: Mammograms are sometimes met with issues of overdiagnosis and underdiagnosis; therefore, they are less reliable in identifying cancer in women with dense breasts. As a result, it is critical to be aware of other sensitive screening techniques for the early diagnosis of breast cancer.

Aim: The ultimate objective of this study was to assess the knowledge of nursing undergraduates regarding non-invasive biomarkers, such as volatile organic compounds in breath, nipple aspirate fluid, sweat, urine, and tears, for the early detection of breast cancer to help improve patient care, determine the risk factors, and encourage practice of breast self-examination.

Methods: Cross-sectional research was done in the Department of Nursing at Farasan campus using a self-structured questionnaire as the study tool. A total of 260 students willingly participated. The study tool had evaluation questions focused on the non-invasive biomarkers of breast cancer, risk factors, and breast self-examination practices to collect data. The data were subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics. The statistical significance was calculated at P < .05. Data analyses were done using Microsoft Excel (2013).

Results: A significant knowledge gap existed among the study participants about the non-invasive biomarkers of breast cancer. A lesser percentage of students (25%) stated that they do breast self-examination on a monthly basis. The most common reasons for not doing the breast self-examination were "not knowing how to do the breast self-examination" (77.3%), fear of a positive diagnosis (53.9%), thinking that they are not at risk as all were in their teens and hence not required (44.7%), and lack of time (48.7%). Age and frequency of breast self-examination were significantly associated (P < .05) as those few students (22.7%) who were doing breast self-examination practices every 2-4 months belonged to a higher study year. Furthermore, knowledge regarding incidence rates and health care expenditure by the government on breast cancer was also significantly low (P < .05).

Conclusions: Outcomes would help prioritize actions to help future nurses better understand breast cancer, allowing them to extend patient care in the best way possible.

Keywords: BSE; breast cancer; non-invasive biomarkers; nursing undergraduates; risk factors.