Efficient Health Education As a Cure for Increasing Breast Cancer Incidence Among Women in the Age of 45 Years Old and Older in Poland
Authors: Koczkodaj P. , Cedzynska M. , Przepiorka I. , Manczuk M. 
Published: September 2018

Background: Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer among women in developed and developing countries. In Poland during last three decades BC incidence has doubled. Accordingly to the latest epidemiologic data from the National Cancer Registry in Poland, 2015 was another year with BC incidence increase - 18 106 new cases of BC (age standardized rate/100 000 - 90.9). Moreover, BC is the second leading cause of cancer mortality among women in Poland (14.1% of deaths). As we still don't have sufficient knowledge about BC origin, it is crucial to limit well-known risk factors of BC to reduce number of new cases. To achieve this significant public health goal there is a need to identify and understand women's attitudes and measure their knowledge about protective and risk factors in BC, especially among women in the age of 45 years old and older, which is the most prone group. Aim: To analyze women's attitudes and investigate their knowledge about BC risk and protective factors in the age group 45 years old and older in Poland. Methods: Data from 380 women were collected from May to August 2017 in Poland. Women from this cohort were randomly selected from whole country and included healthy women, women with BC and convalescent women after BC and other types of cancer. The basic inclusion criterion was age of the women - at least 45 y.o. at the moment of the study. As a tool for data collection, original questionnaire has been projected and implemented, both in electronic and paper version. Questionnaire has been divided into following sections: BC completed treatment, education about BC and prophylaxis (BC risk factors) and consisted from 26 questions single and multiple choice. Collected data has been preliminarily analyzed by Microsoft Excel (v. 14.0.7173.5000), taking also into account sociodemographic profile of women from the research group. Results: 43% (166) of women had completed higher education, 49% (187) secondary education (eg high school) and 2% (8) basic education. Among women with the highest level of education 40% (67) had BC, 60% (99) didn't. In the group of women with secondary education it was respectively 72% (137) and 26% (50) and in the group with basic education 87.5% (7) and 12.5% (1). 52% (196) of women completed education about BC risk factors prophylaxis in the past (lectures, courses, etc.). In this group 70% (135) of respondents claim that this education improved their level of knowledge. Among this women, 28% (38) claim that alcohol consumption contributes to BC, 37% (50) - hormonal replacement therapy, 47% (63) - overweight and obesity and 64% (87) - gene mutations - BRCA1 and BRCA2. Conclusion: Study results suggest that there is a need to create and implement coordinated actions aiming education about BC risk factors among women 45+, which is the most prone group. As we still don't have all answers about BC origin, efficient health education seems to be the best way to decrease BC incidence.