Authors (including presenting author) :
Hung HL(1), Chan WY(1), Chan LN(1), Wong CH(1), Lee KK(2), Ko WK(3), Tsang HF(1), Yeung TW(2), Lam MY(2), Lau YC(1)
Affiliation :
(1) Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, United Christian Hospital (2) Department of Family Medicine and Primary Health Care, Tseung Kwan O Hospital (3) Department of Specialist Out-patient Clinic, Tseung Kwan O Hospital
Keyword 1: :
Breast self-awareness
Keyword 2: :
Nurse-led education
Keyword 3: :
Women’s health
Keyword 4: :
Primary Healthcare
Keyword 5: :
Preventive care
Introduction :
In alignment with Hong Kong’s Primary Healthcare Blueprint, there is a strategic shift from treatment-oriented healthcare to prevention-focused community care. Breast cancer remains the most prevalent cancer among women in Hong Kong, yet local data suggests that breast self-awareness among Chinese women is suboptimal. While FMCs are often viewed primarily as treatment hubs, they hold untapped potential as active centres for health promotion.
Objectives :
This project aimed to evaluate the impact and practical integration of a nurse-led educational intervention designed to enhance breast self-awareness among female patients in the public primary care setting.
Methodology :
A pre-post quasi-experimental study was conducted across five FMCs in the KEC between June 2024 and August 2024. The study recruited 118 female participants aged 40 to 69. The intervention involved a structured health education session focused on the "Breast Awareness 4-Point Code," supplemented by Hospital Authority patient education pamphlets. Efficacy was measured using the Breast-Cancer Awareness Measure (Breast-CAM) and a screening beliefs instrument which could assess changes in knowledge, attitude, and preventive behaviour.
Result & Outcome :
The intervention demonstrated statistically significant improvements across key psychometric domains (p< 0.001). Participants exhibited a marked increase in health literacy including an increase in mean scores for "awareness of risk factors" from 29.05 to 39.17 and a rise in of mean scores for "awareness of signs and symptoms" from 6.97 to 9.80. The mean score for "confidence and behaviour in detecting breast changes" surged from 3.95 to 6.24. This shift drove tangible behavioural change, with 85.6% of participants committing to monthly self-checks post-intervention, compared to 35.6% who had never performed self-examinations previously. Willingness to disseminate information within social circles also increased to 98.3%. This project demonstrated that targeted health promotion was both effective and feasible within the public primary care setting. By incorporating preventive education into routine primary care, the initiative empowered women to take charge of their health, bridging the gap between clinical service and community wellness. As primary healthcare reform advances under the Primary Healthcare Blueprint, this study served as a practical model for expanding women’s health initiatives through primary care nursing. Notwithstanding, this early experience reinforced confidence as a key facilitator in implementing the newly launched nurse-led women health preventive care service in KEC.
