Knowledge of the breast self-examination technique and associated factors in women from rural communities in Guerrero, Mexico
| ISRCTN | ISRCTN11525400 |
|---|---|
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN11525400 |
| Secondary identifying numbers | CISSG-016-2024 |
- Submission date
- 31/01/2025
- Registration date
- 06/02/2025
- Last edited
- 06/02/2025
- Recruitment status
- No longer recruiting
- Overall study status
- Ongoing
- Condition category
- Cancer
Plain English summary of protocol
Background and study aims
Breast cancer is a public health problem and is the main cause of death and disability among women. There is evidence that training in the technique of breast self-examination significantly increases the practice and favours the early detection of cancer. The aim of this study is to measure the impact of an educational intervention about breast self-examination in women from five rural communities in the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico.
Who can participate?
Women from 20 to 59 years of age
What does the study involve?
Participants attend an educational workshop on breast self-examination. The same study group will serve as a control group (before) and an intervention group (after). An initial survey will serve as a baseline as a reference for the impact on knowledge about breast self-examination. Follow-up of all participants (final survey) will measure the change in knowledge about breast self-examination.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
To the extent that the improvement in knowledge is applied to practice, this research will benefit the early detection of breast cancer in women in rural areas. This research does not present any risk to the study population.
Where is the study run from?
Autonomous University of Guerrero (Mexico)
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2024 to September 2025
Who is funding the study?
Autonomous University of Guerrero (Mexico)
Who is the main contact?
Belén Madeline Sánchez Gervacio, madegervacio@uagro.mx
Contact information
Public
Calle Pino S/N, Colonia El Roble
Acapulco
39640
Mexico
 ORCID ID |
0000-0001-8411-3210 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +52 (0)7442357646 |
| 18503@uagro.mx |
Scientific, Principal Investigator
Calle Pino S/N, Colonia El Roble
Acapulco
39640
Mexico
| ORCID ID |
0000-0001-6481-9646 |
|---|---|
| Phone | +52 (0)7442202491 |
| madegervacio@uagro.mx |
Study information
| Study design | Community-based before-after trial |
|---|---|
| Primary study design | Interventional |
| Secondary study design | Non randomised study |
| Study setting(s) | Community |
| Study type | Screening |
| Scientific title | Impact of an educational intervention on breast self-examination in women from rural communities in Guerrero, Mexico: before-after study |
| Study acronym | IEIBSE-UAGro |
| Study objectives | An educational intervention improves knowledge about the breast self-examination technique in women from rural communities in the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico |
| Ethics approval(s) |
Approved 22/07/2024, Research Committee of Guerrero State Health Services, COFEPRIS Register 18 CI 12 001 048 (Avenida Ruffo Figueroa, No. 6, Colonia Burócratas, Chilpancingo, 39090, Mexico; +52 (0)7474943100; deptoinvestigaciongro@gmail.com), ref: CISSG-016-2024 |
| Health condition(s) or problem(s) studied | Breast cancer |
| Intervention | This is an educational intervention in five rural communities in the mountains of the state of Guerrero, Mexico. An initial measurement will be made to determine the level of knowledge about breast self-examination in these women. This includes having them participate in a short survey and give their opinion on the content of the educational workshop. After a baseline (before) all women will receive the intervention and a second measurement (after) will evaluate the impact of the educational intervention. |
| Intervention type | Behavioural |
| Primary outcome measure | Knowledge about the breast self-examination technique. This variable will be measured by the response to 13 questions based on the technique recommended by the Clinical Practice Guide of the Mexican Social Security Institute for the prevention, screening and timely referral of suspected cases of breast cancer at the first level of care. It evaluates three areas: observation (4 items), palpation (7 items) and periodicity (2 items). It uses a Likert-type response scale where the option always gives 3 points, almost always 2 points, rarely 1 point and never 0 points. It obtains a maximum score of 39 and a minimum of 0. A high level of knowledge corresponds to a score equal to or greater than 26, a medium score of 13 to 25 points and a low score less than or equal to 12 points. This variable will be measured at baseline and 2 months after the end of the intervention in the impact measurement. |
| Secondary outcome measures | Frequency of breast self-examination. This variable will be measured by the response to the question "In the last month, did you self-examine your breasts to detect any health problems?" This variable will be measured at baseline and 2 months after the end of the intervention in the impact measurement. |
| Overall study start date | 15/03/2024 |
| Completion date | 13/09/2025 |
Eligibility
| Participant type(s) | All |
|---|---|
| Age group | Adult |
| Lower age limit | 20 Years |
| Upper age limit | 59 Years |
| Sex | Female |
| Target number of participants | 700 |
| Key inclusion criteria | 1. Women aged 20 to 59 years 2. Give their consent to participate 3. Residents of the participating communities |
| Key exclusion criteria | 1. Women diagnosed with breast cancer 2. Women with visual, hearing or motor disabilities that prevent them from answering the survey 3. Women with bilateral mastectomies 4. Women who are breastfeeding 5. Pregnant women |
| Date of first enrolment | 15/03/2025 |
| Date of final enrolment | 17/05/2025 |
Locations
Countries of recruitment
- Mexico
Study participating centres
39110
Mexico
39110
Mexico
39110
Mexico
39110
Mexico
40992
Mexico
Sponsor information
University/education
Javier Méndez Aponte, No. 1, Fraccionamiento Servidor Agrario
Chilpancingo
39070
Mexico
| Phone | +52 (0)733273 4776 |
|---|---|
| dir_posgrado@ugro.mx | |
| Website | https://www.uagro.mx |
"ROR" |
https://ror.org/054tbkd46 |
Funders
Funder type
University/education
No information available
Results and Publications
| Intention to publish date | 13/09/2026 |
|---|---|
| Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to share | Yes |
| IPD sharing plan summary | Available on request |
| Publication and dissemination plan | Planned publication in a high-impact peer-reviewed journal Through community meetings, participants will be provided with feedback on the results of the study. |
| IPD sharing plan | The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study will be available upon request from Dr Belén Madeline Sánchez Gervacio (madegervacio@uagro.mx). |
Editorial Notes
06/02/2025: Study's existence confirmed by the General Director of Graduate Studies and Research of the Autonomous University of Guerrero.
