DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2018.v06i03.034

Pages: 979-984

Abstract: Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide which can be detected at an early stage through breast self-examination (BSE) and leads to increased chances of survival. It is the cheap and easy method of diagnosis of breast cancer and is an important public health problem as it is associated with high morbidity and mortality.1To determines the KAP of nursing students on breast cancer & self-examination before and after a structured teaching programme. To measure the ability of student to perform BSE after structured teaching programme. The study was conducted at GNM school of Nursing at SCBMCH, Cuttack, and Odisha. A total of 100 GNM students are enrolled each year and in the 3 year GNM course a total of 300 students are admitted, out of which 10% students are boys in each year. So a total of 90 girls are admitted. Out of 270 female students in the 3year programme a total of 252 students gave consent to participate in the programme. Pretest revealed that 58.74% students had inadequate knowledge on Breast Cancer and BSE. 117(46.43%) had an unfavourable attitude founds breast cancer patients & for BSE. 40.87% had poor pretest scores and only 67 (26.59%) had good scores. Whereas after the orientation programme 237 students (94.05%) had a good score in practice. Change in the behavior, attitude of the nursing students can be brought about by inclusion of the topic in the study curriculum.