Table 2 Number (%) of respondents achieving the correct answer pre and post talk (n = 131)

Knowledge of breast cancer

1. What is the most common cancer in Singapore women

< 0.001

2. Is breast cancer a common cancer among Singapore women

0.031

3. Name two risk factors for breast cancer*

< 0.001

4. Name two symptoms of breast cancer*

0.001

Breast cancer has different stages as follows

1. Stage 0*

0.001

2. Stage 1

0.109

3. Stage 2

1.000

4. Stage 3

0.388

5. Stage 4

0.035

Treatment of breast cancer may involve

1. Traditional medicine

0.265

2. Surgery

NA

3. Chemotherapy

0.625

4. Radiotherapy

0.001

Knowledge of breast cancer screening in Singapore

1. Have you heard of the BreastScreen Singapore program

< 0.001

2. Correctly identify what is considered to be “Breast Cancer Screening”*

0.132

3. Correctly identify age at which women are to start going for breast screening

< 0.001

4. Correctly identify the interval for breast screening *

< 0.001

5. Correctly name 2 places that screening mammograms are available (specific) *

< 0.001

6. Correctly identify how much a screening mammogram costs at the BSS screening centre for Singaporeans? *

< 0.001

7. Can Medisave⁺ be used to pay for screening mammogram for women ≥ 50 years old?

0.174

8. How often women should do breast self-examination (BSE)?

< 0.001

Attitudes and perceptions of Breast cancer screening and treatment

1. Women should only go for a mammogram when they have a breast problem eg lump

0.535

2. I think that regular screening mammogram will not affect the shape of the breasts

0.004

3. If there is an abnormality in the breast, the 1st thing I would do or advise others to do is to see a doctor

0.004

4. Will there be a higher chance of cure if breast cancer is detected early?

0.375

5. Surgery for breast cancer always needs the whole breast to be removed

0.052

6. Surgery for breast cancer will cause the affected arm to swell and be crippled

 < 0.001