Analysis of the impact of educational level on early diagnosis of breast carcinoma in women

Abstract

The prospective study, which ran from January 2010 to January 2015, included the respondents treated for breast carcinoma. The respondents were divided into 3 groups. The first, the A group (63 respopndents), consists of women with (not) completed elementary school. The second, group B (60 resppondents), consists of women who have secondary education, while the third, group C (33 respondents) make women with college or university degrees. The aim is to analyze the impact of the level of education on early diagnosis of breast carcinoma in women. The observed parameters are the age of respondents and the primary risk factors. Parameters for the comparison of the results were: the attitude of the respondents to breast tumors, history of the breast self-examination, breast ultrasound examinations, data on mammography, as well as information on the diameter of the tumor at the moment of the discovery. There was no statistical difference in attitude of respondents about breast tumors when it comes to fear and / or phobia of breast carcinoma. It is almost identical to the number of respondents who have no opinion on breast tumors. Concerning the attitude of respondents that there is no risk of breast carcinoma, if nobody in the family previously had breast carcinoma, then in terms of the attitude that they do not want "their breasts to be explored", as well as the attitude that "any breast examination does not help much", a statistical difference between the studied groups was found. It was found that breast self-examination is performed by most of the respondents, but that patients in group C do it more often. It has been shown that ultrasound and mammography are more often performed by patients in group C and this characteristic makes a significant statistical difference. In Group C, the tumor was detected in diameter to 2 cm which proved statistically different. One of the reasons for early detection of tumors (diameter to 2 cm) in group C may be better enlightenment or a higher level of education of this group.