Knowledge, Attitudes towards Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Preventive Behaviors among Female Students at Ubon Ratchathani University

Abstract

This descriptive research aimed to 1) examine the levels of knowledge, attitudes toward breast cancer, and breast cancer preventive behaviors, and 2) investigate the relationships among knowledge, attitudes, and breast cancer preventive behaviors. The sample group selected by using multistage random sampling consisted of 413 female undergraduate students at Ubon Ratchathani University, during the second semester of the 2024 academic year, who met the inclusion criteria. The research instruments consisted of a demographic questionnaire, a breast cancer knowledge questionnaire, an attitude toward breast cancer questionnaire, and a breast cancer preventive behavior questionnaire. The knowledge questionnaire demonstrated acceptable reliability with a Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) coefficient of .80. The attitude and preventive behavior questionnaires showed good reliability, with Cronbach’s alpha coefficients of .75 and .98, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson’s correlation coefficient. The results revealed that: 1) the mean score of knowledge regarding breast cancer prevention was at a high level (x̄ = 16.22, SD = 2.75), attitudes toward breast cancer were at a good level (x̄ = 54.31, SD = 6.31), and breast cancer preventive behaviors were at an appropriate level (x̄ = 88.06, SD = 10.60); and 2) knowledge was positively correlated with attitudes and breast cancer preventive behaviors at a statistically significant level of .01 (r = .26; r = .17, respectively). In addition, attitudes were positively correlated with breast cancer preventive behaviors at a statistically significant level of .01 (r = .23). These findings suggest that promoting knowledge and positive attitudes toward breast cancer prevention can serve as an effective approach to enhancing breast cancer preventive behaviors.