Doctors suggest mandatory screening policy, increase in IEC programs can control rise in breast cancer
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37506/1b65cz18Keywords:
Breast cancer; awareness; screening policy; IEC; NCD; stigmaAbstract
Background:
A qualitative study was carried out among doctors in Karnataka to understand their perceptions about breast cancer, its rapid rise and control measures.
Methods:
67 doctors from allopathic as well as AYUSH fields answered a qualitative questionnaire related to screening policy in breast cancer, uptake, control measures, treatment costs and health insurance cover.
The questionnaires were sent as links to Google Forms. About 300 doctors were contacted but only about 67 doctors answered the questions. Answers were recorded from Google Forms into Excel sheets and subjected to statistical analysis by SPSS program.
Results:Among all the participating doctors, 66% of participants suggested making screening of breast cancer a mandatory procedure in the form of clinical breast exams (CBE), self-breast exams (SBE) and mammography.
Conclusion:
Most doctors feel that screening policies could be made mandatory.They recommend breast cancer to be treated as a public health emergency.
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