Breast cancer awareness, attitude and screening among the individuals of India

Aims & objectives:

The aim of this study is to evaluate the level of knowledge about breast cancer risk factors, symptoms and importance of early detection among the individuals of India

• To understand the attitudes and perception towards breast cancer, screening methods and its barriers

• To identify sociocultural factors/ barriers related to breast cancer and screening.

• To analyse the current screening practices, this would include looking at the types of screening methods and how frequently they are used.

Justification:

Breast cancer (BC) is one the most prevalent cancers among women, with 2.3 million women diagnosed and 6,70,000 deaths globally in 2022 (WHO., 2024). According to the Globocan data 2020, BC contributed to 10.6% (90,408) of all deaths and 13.5% (1,78,361) of all cancer cases in India (Mehrotra and Yadav., 2022). According to the American Cancer Society, BC detected in the localised stages has a five-year survival rate of 99% (National Breast Cancer Foundation., 2024).

BC is the most prevalent cancer in India, contributing to 28.2% of all female cancers. Between 1990 and 2016, the incidence of BC among women in India increased by 39.1%, with this rise seen consistently across all Indian states over the 26-year period (Sathishkumar et al., 2024). The 5-year breast cancer survival rate in India is 66.1%, as per the CONCORD-3 study conducted between 2010 and 2014. This is considerably lower than the rates in Australia (89.5%) and the United States of America (90.2%) (Allemani et al., 2018).

Comprehensive information about the general public’s knowledge, attitudes, and screening practices for breast cancer in this area is lacking. It is essential to understand these factors in order to create focused interventions. It is well known that early detection through routine screening significantly improves survival rates and lowers mortality. Nonetheless, in many regions of India, the use of mammography and other breast cancer screening techniques is still uncommon. Finding the obstacles to screening can help develop plans to increase uptake and, eventually, lower the mortality rate from breast cancer. Lack of awareness, stigma, and ingrained beliefs can make screening procedures less acceptable. By concentrating on these sociocultural factors, the study can shed light on how awareness and attitudes are affected, which will facilitate the creation of culturally appropriate educational initiatives.

Detailed Procedure:

This study will use a cross-sectional design to assess breast cancer awareness, attitudes, and screening practices among the population of India. The research will use quantitative methods to gather data. Prior to the commencement of the study, ethical approval will be sought from Institutional Review Committee and Institutional Ethics Committee. The study will be conducted on individuals which include adults aged 18 or above. Convenience sampling will be used. The questionnaires will be sent through e-mail, WhatsApp and other social media to primary contacts and their secondary contacts through sharing by primary contacts. The study will be excluding individuals with prior diagnosis and individuals with cognitive impairments. The data will be collected through structured questionnaires. The questionnaires will be administered through google forms and will be conducted in English. The questions will cover demographic information, awareness of breast cancer, attitudes, screening and personal screening practices. The collected data will then be analysed using statistical software to identify any significant differences. This study will be conducted from September 2024 to January 2025. Through this procedure, the study aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of breast cancer awareness, attitudes, screening practices among the individuals in India and also look at any barriers that may be faced.