AUTHOR=Liu Shaozhong , Zheng Shukai , Qin Mengzhen , Xie Yifeng , Yang Kun , Liu Xiaozhen 

TITLE=Knowledge, attitude, and practice toward ultrasound screening for breast cancer among women

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 12 - 2024

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1309797

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2024.1309797

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background: Several obstacles can hinder breast cancer screening. This study aimed to investigate the knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) toward ultrasound screening for breast cancer in women. Methods: This cross-sectional study recruited women who visited the breast specialist clinic of Zhongshan City People's Hospital (a tertiary hospital) between August 2022 and April 2023 through convenience sampling. KAP scores >70% were considered adequate.Results: This study enrolled 501 participants. The mean knowledge, attitude, and practice levels were 8.56±1.81/12 (possible range 0-12, 71.33%), 29.80±2.71 (possible range 8-40, 74.50%), and 32.04±3.09 (possible range 8-40, 80.10%). Senior high school education (vs. junior high school and below, coefficient =1.531, 95%CI: 1.013-2.312, P=0.044), bachelor's education and above (vs. junior high school and below, coefficient =5.315, 95%CI: 3.546-7.966, P<0.001), housewife or unemployed (vs. employed, coefficient =0.671, 95%CI: 0.466-0.966, P=0.032), and a history of breast ultrasound (vs. no, coefficient =1.466, 95%CI: 1.121-1.917, P=0.005) were independently and positively associated with knowledge. Knowledge (coefficient =1.303, 95%CI: 1.100-1.544, P=0.002) and monthly income >10,000 (vs. <5000, coefficient =4.364, 95%CI: 1.738-10.956, P=0.002) were independently and positively associated with attitude. Only attitude (coefficient =1.212, 95%CI: 1.096-1.340, P<0.001) was independently and positively associated with the practice. A structural equation modeling (SEM) analysis was used to estimate causality among KAP dimensions, showing that knowledge directly influenced attitude (β=-1.090, P=0.015), knowledge did not directly influence practice (β=-0.117, P=0.681) but had an indirect influence (β=0.826, P=0.028), and attitude directly influenced practice (β=-0.757, P=0.016). Conclusions: Women in Zhongshan City had good knowledge, favorable attitudes, and active practice toward breast ultrasound screening for breast cancer. Women's characteristics associated with a poorer KAP were identified, allowing for more targeted interventions.