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=12

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=<sec id="sec1"><title>Background</title><p>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.</p></sec><sec id="sec2"><title>Methods</title><p>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.</p></sec><sec id="sec3"><title>Results</title><p>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, <italic>p</italic> = 0.044), bachelor’s education and above (vs. junior high school and below, coefficient = 5.315, 95%CI: 3.546–7.966, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 0.001), housewife or unemployed (vs. employed, coefficient = 0.671, 95%CI: 0.466–0.966, <italic>p</italic> = 0.032), and a history of breast ultrasound (vs. no, coefficient = 1.466, 95%CI: 1.121–1.917, <italic>p</italic> = 0.005) were independently and positively associated with knowledge. Knowledge (coefficient = 1.303, 95%CI: 1.100–1.544, <italic>p</italic> = 0.002) and monthly income &gt;10,000 (vs. &lt;5,000, coefficient = 4.364, 95%CI: 1.738–10.956, <italic>p</italic> = 0.002) were independently and positively associated with attitude. Only attitude (coefficient = 1.212, 95%CI: 1.096–1.340, <italic>p</italic> &lt; 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 (<italic>β</italic> = −1.090, <italic>p</italic> = 0.015), knowledge did not directly influence practice (<italic>β</italic> = −0.117, <italic>p</italic> = 0.681) but had an indirect influence (<italic>β</italic> = 0.826, <italic>p</italic> = 0.028), and attitude directly influenced practice (<italic>β</italic> = −0.757, <italic>p</italic> = 0.016).</p></sec><sec id="sec4"><title>Conclusion</title><p>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.</p></sec>