| Summary: | 碩士 === 國立成功大學 === 生物學系 === 86 === The morbidity and mortality of the breast cancer have
increased steadilyover the past two decades in Taiwan. Most
cancers have been discovered bythe patients themselves, however,
only 19.7% of them were 2cm or smallerin diameter when
discovered or diagnosed. The failure of early diagnosismay be
due to lack of breast cancer knowledge and/or in correct breast
self-examination. The aim of this research is to explore the
extend of knowledgeon breast cancer and practice of breast self-
examination of the femaleuniversity students and to investigate
the factors that influence the studests''knowledge and execution
status. The need of a breast cancer education programin college
was also studied. Information from self-administered
questionnaires were acquired from 897 female students in
National Cheng Kung University. The results show that mostfemale
students have inadequate knowledge on the risk factors of breast
cancer,only 20% of them know that 2cm or smaller tumor can be
found by breast self-examination, and general surgery and family
medicine are the two departments to ask for diagnosis and
consulation. Only 15.5% of the students regularly do breast
self-examination in the week following their menstruation, the
main reason for not practicing breast self-examination is do not
understand the accurate steps for breast self-examination. The
average scores of breast cancerknowledge and breast self-
examination practice were 13.658+/-3.524(out of a perfect score
of 25)and 4.345+/-1.347(perfect score is 7). Students from
medical college had significantly better scores on knowledge and
practice, students from the Departments of Rehabilitation(the
physical therapy division)and Nursing scored highest on
knowledge and practice respectively. Seniorstudents had better
knowledge and practice than junior ones. Students
fromengineering college, statistic department, and the freshmen
scored the worst.It seems that professional training lead to
sensitivity to health-related knowledge and practice, this shows
the importance of health. The factors thatrelated to highter
breast cancer knowlledge are ever had received breast self-
examination information, had breast disease before, and the
division of physical therapy students. The factors that
associated with better breast self-examination practice are
search for medical consulation when breast problemswere found,
Nursing Department students, and regularly listen to or read
medical and health information. 69.7% of all female students
welcome the suggestion of adding breast health education as an
elective course, meanwhile,82.1% agreed that the university
should at least hold breast self-examination and breast cancer
protection health education seminar once every year. Public
health administrators and health educators should appreciate the
informationprovided by the students and set up health education
programs accordingly.
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