Awareness and Knowledge of Ovarian Cancer Symptoms and Risk Factors: A Survey of Jordanian Women

Mazen Freij, Mohammad Al Qadire, Maysa Khadra, Mohammed ALBashtawy, Wael Tuqan, Mohammad Al Faqih, Ayoub Innabi, Abdul-Monim Batiha, Fadwa Alhalaiqa and Aida Abd El-Razek

Clinical Nursing Research, 2018, vol. 27, issue 7, 826-840

Abstract: Ovarian cancer accounts for 3% of all female cancers and has a high mortality rate among gynecological malignancies. Early diagnosis carries a high survival rate of 93%. So, this study was carried out to assess the knowledge and awareness of Jordanian women about ovarian cancer symptoms and risk factors. A cross-sectional survey design was used; 896 women completed the survey. The mean of total symptoms recognized was low at level of 3.2 ( SD = 2.7) out of 10. The three highest known symptoms among women were as follows: extreme fatigue (43.2%), back pain (42.4%), and persistent pain in pelvic area (40.7%). The most commonly known risk factor was smoking (68.4%), followed by having ovarian cyst(s) (59.7%). Hence, with the absence of an effective screening program, a national awareness campaign is urgently needed to improve the public’s understanding of symptoms and risk factors and increasing women’s confidence in symptom recognition.

Keywords: ovarian cancer; awareness; risk factors; symptoms; women; Jordan; cancer prevention (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:clnure:v:27:y:2018:i:7:p:826-840

DOI: 10.1177/1054773817704749

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