Healthliteracy, A Management dilemma in Carcinoma Breast
Malik Muhammad Makki, Iftikhar Ahmed Bhatt, Fawad Hameed, Samiayunus, Faisal Shezad
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ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine
the literacy level in patients presenting with carcinoma breast and to analyze
other social factors involved in patient’s late presentation.
Methods: We did this prospective observational study in Bahawal Victoria
Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan from Jan 2018 to December 2018 over the period
of 1 year duration. A total of 100 patients included in the study.After taking
informed consent we included those patients who presented with lump in the
breast, Peud’orange, fungating mass, metastasis and were histopathologically
diagnosed, while those with benign breast disease, family history of breast
disease, recurrent breast carcinoma and male with breast carcinoma were
excluded. Patient’sinformation like age, level of education, maritalstatus,
parity, status of breast feeding, clinical presentation, duration of symptoms
and clinical stage were recorded on proforma. All the data was
analyzed through SPSS version 16.0. Ethical Clearance was taken prior to
initiation of the study. Findings were
represented using tables and charts.
Results: We include total 100 patients. The peak age range was 31–50 years (59%).
There were 33 %(n=33) illiterate patients, 18 % (n=18) with high school
education. The duration of illness was from 1 to 5 months. There were only 9%
of patients came in stage I, while 91% in stage II, III and IV. There were 12%
of cases who presented first time in our clinic with metastatic disease.
Conclusion: Patients with low literacy are more likely to be diagnosed at a later
stage of cancer, which effect the disease prognosis, morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Education, Health literacy, Lump, Peud’ orange, Carcinoma, TNM (Tumor,
Node, Metastasis).
ABSTRACT
Aim: To determine
the literacy level in patients presenting with carcinoma breast and to analyze
other social factors involved in patient’s late presentation.
Methods: We did this prospective observational study in Bahawal Victoria
Hospital, Bahawalpur, Pakistan from Jan 2018 to December 2018 over the period
of 1 year duration. A total of 100 patients included in the study.After taking
informed consent we included those patients who presented with lump in the
breast, Peud’orange, fungating mass, metastasis and were histopathologically
diagnosed, while those with benign breast disease, family history of breast
disease, recurrent breast carcinoma and male with breast carcinoma were
excluded. Patient’sinformation like age, level of education, maritalstatus,
parity, status of breast feeding, clinical presentation, duration of symptoms
and clinical stage were recorded on proforma. All the data was
analyzed through SPSS version 16.0. Ethical Clearance was taken prior to
initiation of the study. Findings were
represented using tables and charts.
Results: We include total 100 patients. The peak age range was 31–50 years (59%).
There were 33 %(n=33) illiterate patients, 18 % (n=18) with high school
education. The duration of illness was from 1 to 5 months. There were only 9%
of patients came in stage I, while 91% in stage II, III and IV. There were 12%
of cases who presented first time in our clinic with metastatic disease.
Conclusion: Patients with low literacy are more likely to be diagnosed at a later
stage of cancer, which effect the disease prognosis, morbidity and mortality.
Keywords: Education, Health literacy, Lump, Peud’ orange, Carcinoma, TNM (Tumor,
Node, Metastasis).