Risk Perception and Preventive Issues for Breast Cancer among Female Employees

Background: The most common cancer among women is breast cancer which accounts for 27% of all cancers. According to the National Cancer Institutes' reports, the risk of breast cancer among American women is 13%. The current study aims to evaluate the level of risk perception of breast cancer and to identify its related factors amongst female employees.

Methods: This project was a cross-sectional study and participants were female employees working in hospitals and other organizations in the city of Ilam,Iran. A standard questionnaire was prepared using the Gail's model. Excluding criteria for perception risk were age less than 20 years and a history of breast cancer.

Results: Two hundred forty nine women participated in the study, and their mean age and standard deviation were 33.4 and 7 years respectively. The participants were divided into the medical and non- medical employee groups. Ninety seven point two percent of the participants had high school diploma or higher education levels, and 80.3% were married. Twelve subjects (4.8%) had a history of breast cancer among their first- grade relatives (mother or sisters); and 16 subjects had a history of breast cancer among their second- grade relatives. Occupation, familial history of cancer and breast tissue biopsy were significantly related to perception risk in this study, and the breast cancer perception risk was higher in the medical group compared to the non-medical group.

Conclusion: Most women did not show a true estimation of breast cancer; however, those working in the relevant professions such as nurses and midwives can show a higher estimation. A higher knowledge of breast cancer will result in a higher perception risk and chasing relevant preventive and remedial cares.