Training of primary health care nurses on breast cancer screening awareness -

Abstract

Breast cancer is the number one cancer in women worldwide. Early detection of breast cancer is associated with higher survival rates. The Lebanese Ministry of Public Health plans and implements a breast cancer awareness campaign on annual basis from the beginning of the month of October until the end of December, yet mammography utilization rates are low. Thus, there is a need to empower primary health care nurses and motivate them to spread breast cancer screening awareness. This education program will equip primary health care nurses with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are necessary to spread breast cancer awareness among Lebanese women. The program is complementary to the breast cancer awareness campaign and should be implemented three months before the campaign in different regions in Lebanon starting with the region of the lowest mammography utilization rate. The education program is guided by the Health Belief Model, and is composed of two parts: educating primary health care nurses about breast cancer screening and early detection, and on how to effectively communicate their message using culture-based strategies. This program is a step towards increasing mammography utilization rates in Lebanon.