How do nurses and teachers perform breast self-examination: are they reliable sources of information?

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Breast cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine and compare knowledge, behavior and attitudes among female nurses and teachers concerning breast self-examination (BSE).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Two-hundred and eighty nine women working in Aydin, Turkey (125 nurses and 164 teachers) were included in the study. The data were collected using a questionnaire designed to measure the knowledge, attitudes and behavior of the groups. Analysis involved percentiles, χ²tests, <it>t </it>tests and factor analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The knowledge of nurses about BSE was higher than that of teachers (81.5% versus 45.1%; p < 0.001). BSE practice parameters (i.e. age groups, indications, frequency) were similar (p > 0.05), whereas skills in performing self-examination were higher in nurses (p < 0.001). Fear of having breast cancer is the most frequent reason for performing BSE. Among nurses, the reasons for failure to perform BSE were the absence of prominent breast problems (82%) and forgetting (56.4%). The teachers who did not perform BSE said that the reasons were lack of knowledge on how to perform self-examination (68.9%) and absence of problems (54%). Both groups had unacceptable technical errors in the performance of BSE.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We conclude that nurses and teachers should be supported with information enabling them to accomplish their roles in the community. To improve BSE practice, it is crucial to coordinate continuous and planned education.</p

Midwives roles in women's improvement of protective behaviour against breast cancer whether they have a family history of cancer or not

Purpose: The aim of the study was to determine roles of midwives in helping women improve behavior for protection against breast cancer and towards early diagnosis whether they have a family history of cancer or not. Materials and methods: The study was planned in order to evaluate the efficacy of education about the risk factors of breast cancer and primary and secondary protection (early diagnosis) measures given to the women between the ages of 20-49, literate, married and who had or did not have cancer cases in their families. It was carried out in the region of Çamkule Levent Kara Health Care Center between March 2006 and April 2007. Results: Age, educational and economic status of the women with or without a cancer case in their families have been equivalent and a statistically significant difference has not been determined between both of the groups (p>0.05). The cancer risk perception of the women having a cancer case in their families (75.8%) was higher than in those wwithout (62.8%) (p<0.005). Although they were also better informed about protection against cancer and early diagnosis, they do not participate to a greater extent in the practices of early diagnosis-scanning of breast cancer and they do not turn the information into attitude or behavior. Conclusion: The results of the study showed that midwives have significant responsibilities for directing all women towards protection against breast cancer and early diagnosis programs

Risk of postnatal depression and pregnancy in Bornova, İzmir [İzmirin Bornova i·lçesinde gebelik ve dogum sonrasi depresyon riski]

Objective: The purpose of this research was to examine the risk for depression during pregnancy and in the postnatal period in Bornova, Izmir. Material and Methods: This descriptive type of research was conducted with (n= 327) women who were between 32-36 weeks pregnancy and registered in 18 primary health clinics in region. No sampling method was used. The sociodemographic questionnaire and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) were used in the research. The data were obtained in two phases. In the first phase the sociodemographic questionnaire and EPDS were administered to women in their 32nd-36th week of pregnancy. The second phase took place four to eight weeks postnatal when the women were administered the EPDS again. Of all the women 83.5% were reached. Results: 37% of the women were in the 25-29 years old age group and their mean age was 26 ± 4.6. It was determined that 22% of the women were at risk of postnatal depression. The relationship between the women's prenatal and postnatal EPDS score means were found. Pregnant who had extended families had a 2.87 times greater risk for depression than those in nuclear families, and women who did not want their pregnancy had a 5.00 times greater risk than those who did. Women who had delivered a child felt bad emotionally had a 2.63 times greater risk for depression. Conclusion: Depression in pregnancy and postnatal depression are mental health problems that should not be ignored for a healthy mother-infant-father triangle. Copyright © 2010 by Türkiye Klinikleri

Prevalence of prostate cancer among men aged 40+ living in Osman Gazi Health Care district

Background: Prostate cancer is a risk for men aged 40+ even if it is rarely seen among men under the age of 50. It is asymptomatic disease in its early period and if the person does not have an enlarged prostate it will be overlooked without screening. Consequently, the only way to diagnose prostate cancer in its early period is to determine the serum PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level of men aged 40+ and to do a digital rectal examination (DRE). Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of prostate cancer among men aged 40+, to mention the significance of DRE and PSA by means of a training to be done with the aid of a booklet about early diagnosis, and to encourage men to consult a doctor and get the right treatment at the right time. Methods: The research was a descriptive field study. carried out among 660 men aged 40+ out of 3,285 men who live in Osman Gazi Health Care District, connected with the Presidency of Training and Research Health Group of Bornova. This group was selected as the smallest sample size by the systematic sampling method within the frame of setting the prevalence of prostate cancer at 10%, the confidence interval as 95%, the standard error as 2%. A total of 264 men of the sample group (participation rate 40%) agreed to a survey of International Prostate Symptom Score (I-PSS) projected by the study, and underwent DRE and PSA with a blood sample. Results: Increase in the serum PSA level (4ng/mL<) was determined in 10 men. Nodules were detected in 3 men together with the increase in PSA. One further nodule was detected only in DRE one examination of 12 participants. In the light of these data, it was decided to conduct a biopsy on 25 people, who had an increase in PSE and/or whose abnormalities were detected during DRE, in company with TRUS, and prostate cancer was detected in the biopsies of 5 people (1.89%). Conclusions: It can be thought that before a decision is made on routinizing prostate cancer screening, it may be more suitable to make randomized controlled screening trials for prostate cancer