Translation and Validation of the Breast Cancer Awareness Measurement Tool (B-CAM-A) in Lebanon: A prevention and Awareness Campaign.

Samir Badran, Celine El Toufaily, Gaelle Maroun, Lama Aoude, Elissa El Houyek, Joya Assaf, Gergi Antoun, Diala El Khoury, Josiane Orfaly
Purpose:

The aim of this study is to translate, adapt, and validate the internationally recognized B-CAM for use in Lebanon.


Methods:

A sample of 173 Lebanese women aged 40 to 70, with no personal breast cancer diagnosis and not employed in the healthcare, was recruited from general population registries across Lebanon. Data collection occurred between May 19 and 31, 2024. The validation process used the original B-CAM developed by Cancer Research UK, King's College London, and University College London (CancerResearchUK, 2011). Ethical approval was granted by the Ethics Committee of Université La Sagesse (ULS) (ULS/IRB - 2024 - 2). Participants were informed about the study, consented voluntarily, and their anonymity was ensured.


Results:

The majority of participants were aged 40-50 years (55.6%), with 28.7% aged 51-60 years and 14% aged 61-70 years. Most were married (77%), and employed (52.8%), with 41% in diverse occupations. While 90.4% had no personal history of breast problems, 23% report a family history of breast cancer. About 68.5% recognized a lump as a potential sign of cancer, and 55.6% identified breast or armpit as a symptom. However, 40.4% rarely or never perform self-breast examinations, and 44.9% had never consulted a doctor after noticing changes, though 65.7% would seek medical advice promptly. Statistical analyses showed acceptable reliability with a Cronbach’s Alpha of 0.747 and a KMO of 0.721, supporting the tool’s validity.

Conclusion(s):

The B-CAM-A is culturally acceptable and valid for use among Lebanese women. It is a valuable tool for assessing breast cancer awareness and evaluating public health interventions in Lebanon.

Implications:

Physiotherapy plays a crucial role in the awareness, prevention, rehabilitation, and overall management of breast cancer. By promoting awareness and delivering education about breast cancer, physiotherapists help both patients and the wider community understand the importance of early detection and preventive strategies. Additionally, they contribute to reducing risk factors through promoting healthy lifestyles, physical activity, and fitness, which are essential in the prevention of breast cancer. This tool provides a valid means to assess breast cancer awareness within the Lebanese context, enabling public health authorities to enhance community engagement and education initiatives that support early detection and prevention efforts.

Funding acknowledgements:
This study was funded by Université La Sagesse, whose financial support was crucial to its successful completion
Keywords:
Breast Cancer
B-CAM
Prevention
Primary topic:
Women's health
Second topic:
Oncology, HIV and palliative care
Third topic:
Education
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Université La Sagesse / The Institutional Review Board (IRB)
Provide the ethics approval number:
ULS/IRB -2024 -2
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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