Impact of Breast Density Awareness on Knowledge about Breast Cancer Risk Factors and the Self-Perceived Risk of Breast Cancer
Kristina Bojanic,
Sonja Vukadin,
Filip Sarcevic,
Luka Malenica,
Kaja Grgic,
Robert Smolic,
Kristina Kralik,
Ines Bilic Curcic,
Gordana Ivanac,
George Y. Wu,
Martina Smolic
Affiliations
Kristina Bojanic
Department of Biophysics and Radiology, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Sonja Vukadin
Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Filip Sarcevic
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Luka Malenica
Department of Pathophysiology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Kaja Grgic
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Robert Smolic
Department of Pathophysiology, Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Kristina Kralik
Department of Medical Statistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Ines Bilic Curcic
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Gordana Ivanac
Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Dubrava, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
George Y. Wu
Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology/Hepatology, University of Connecticut Health Center, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT 06032, USA
Martina Smolic
Department of Pharmacology and Biochemistry, Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, 31000 Osijek, Croatia
Breast density (BD) reduces sensitivity of mammography, and is a strong risk factor for breast cancer (BC). Data about women’s awareness and knowledge of BD are limited. Our aim is to examine whether the BD information disclosure and BD awareness among women without BC are related to their knowledge about BC risk factors. We examined self-reported BC risk perception and its association to BD awareness and level of health literacy. A cross-sectional, single site study included 263 Croatian women without BC who had mammographic examination. Data were collected by interviews using questionnaires and a validated survey. Of the total, 77.1% had never heard of BD, and 22.9% were aware of their BD. Most participants who knew their BD (88.2%, p p = 0.04) and higher BD (p = 0.03) are BC risk factors. They could more easily access information about health promotion (p = 0.03). High-BD informed women assessed their lifetime BC risk as significantly higher than all others (p = 0.03). Comprehension of BD awareness and knowledge is crucial for reinforcement of educational strategies and development of amendatory BC screening decisions.
