Laila Afzal, Muhammad Moaaz, Lubna Ayub, Namra Zahoor, Amna Iqbal Butt, Qurat-ul Ain, Muhammad Shahid Iqbal.
Knowledge and practices about breast cancer among female paramedical staff at Sharif Medical City Hospital (SMCH), Lahore.
J Sharif Med Dent Coll Jan ;3(02):49-52.

Objective: To assess knowledge and practices about breast cancer among paramedical staff at SMCH, Lahore. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional descriptive study in which 100 female paramedical staff personnel of SMCH were interviewed. The data was collected through a questionnaire which was analyzed by computer software SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Science) version 23.0. Results: Among 100 respondents, female paramedics who had knowledge about breast cancer as the most common cancer in women were about 93%. Sixty six (66%) respondents had knowledge about the association of breast cancer with family history. Female paramedics who knew that breast self-examination (BSE) is useful in early diagnosis of cancer were 96%. They practiced BSE once in a month routinely. Respondents who had awareness about the first presentation of breast cancer as a painless lump in the breast were 94%. Those who never went for clinical breast examination were 72%. According to overall scoring of knowledge section, 71% had good knowledge about breast cancer, 11% had fair and 18% had no/poor knowledge. Conclusion: The overall level of knowledge about breast cancer occurrence, signs and symptoms and early diagnosis among female paramedics of Sharif Medical City Hospital was found to be up to the mark but their level of awareness regarding practices leading to early diagnosis of breast cancer still needs attention. Keywords: Breast cancer: Knowledge and practices about breast cancer. Breast self-examination (BSE)

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