CLINICAL AWARENESS AND KNOWLEDGE AMONGST DOCTORS, NURSES AND ALLIED HEALTH PROFESSIONALS OF BREAST CANCER RELATED LYMPHOEDEMA IN SINGAPORE – A SURVEY

J.H.J. Law1, H.Y. Chia1
1National University Hospital, Singapore, Singapore

Background: Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women in Singapore, comprising of 29% in all cancer diagnoses. Along with increasing breast cancer survival rates, so too have the occurrence of breast cancer related lymphedema (BCRL).

Purpose: Research shows that patients report dissatisfaction with the information provided by their treating clinicians regarding BCRL, as compared to information received regarding cancer diagnosis and treatment. This study seeks to quantify awareness and knowledge of BCRL among doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals within an acute hospital in Singapore.

Methods: A 15 question survey was created and disseminated via hardcopy and an online web survey tool to nurses, doctors and allied health professionals working in the department of oncology within a public hospital in Singapore. The questions examined specific points of knowledge regarding causes, symptoms and management of BCRL, as well as demographic data.

Results: Univariate analysis was performed on 134 completed surveys.

Conclusion(s): Comparison of demographic data with obtained knowledge score showed that occupation and self-rated level of awareness of current literature regarding BCRL were statistically significant factors affecting knowledge scores. 

Implications: The study found that there may be value in investing in improving awareness and knowledge regarding BCRL amongst doctors, nurses and allied health professionals working with patients with breast cancer in Singapore.

Funding, acknowledgements: This work was unfunded. 

Keywords: Breast cancer lymphoedema, Clinician knowledge, Clinician education

Topic: Education: continuing professional development

Did this work require ethics approval? No
Institution: National Healthcare Group (NHG)
Committee: Domain Specific Review Board (DSRB)
Reason: The study involves the administration of an anonymous survey.


All authors, affiliations and abstracts have been published as submitted.

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