Table 3.

Questionnaire responses of the adult female population among subjects who had not been diagnosed with breast cancer (Group A, n = 2235) and subjects who had already been diagnosed with breast cancer (Group B, n = 140). Differences in response between the two Groups were assessed. A p value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001)

Questionnaire items	Group A Women in the general population (n = 2235) N (%)	Group B Women with cancer (n = 140) N (%)	p-value
Section 2: Participation in screening programs
Q1. Have you ever undergone clinical screening for early detection of breast cancer?
Never	1183 (53%)	14 (10%)	< 0.01**
Rarely	166 (7%)	8 (6%)
Occasionally	272 (12%)	13 (9%)
Often	269 (12%)	36 (26%)
Always	345 (15%)	69 (49%)
If yes, please indicate the frequency
I have never had a screening exam	1204 (54%)	13 (9%)	0.05*
Every two years	390 (17%)	23 (16%)
Once a year	585 (26%)	78 (56%)
Every six months	52 (2%)	24 (17%)
Once a month	4 (0%)	2 (1%)
Q2. Have you ever taken advantage of the region's free checkups?
No	1557 (70%)	467 (48%)	< 0.001***
Yes	419 (19%)	71 (51%)
I don't know what this is about	259 (12%)	2 (1%)
Q3. Have you ever undergone a biopsy?
No	1012 (45%)	38 (27%)	< 0.001***
Yes	91 (4%)	58 (41%)
Missing	1132 (51%)	44 (31%)
Q4. Have you ever undergone mammography?
No	664 (30%)	11 (8%)	< 0.001***
Yes	690 (31%)	113 (81%)
missing	881 (39%)	16 (11%)
Q5. Have you ever undergone ultrasonography?
No	536 (24%)	8 (6%)	< 0.001***
Yes	858 (38%)	121 (86%)
missing	841 (38%)	11 (8%)
Q6. Have you ever undergone MRI?
No	1033 (46%)	47 (34%)	< 0.001***
Yes	50 (2%)	43 (31%)
missing	1152 (52%)	50 (36%)
Q7
No
Yes
Missing
Section 3: Approach toward self-examination (BSE)
Q8. How often do you perform breast self- examination?
Never	438 (20%)	7 (5%)	< 0.01**
Rarely	545 (24%)	22 (16%)
Occasionally	690 (31%)	27 (19%)
Often	495 (22%)	65 (46%)
Always	67 (3%)	19 (14%)
Q9. If you do not perform it, state the reason
I perform it	895 (40%)	94 (67%)	0.01**
I perform other medical examinations	30 (1%)	6 (4%)
I don't remember to run it	416 (19%)	9 (6%)
Fear of ominous prognosis	105 (5%)	12 (9%)
I don't know how to execute it correctly	788 (35%)	19 (14%)
Missing	1 (0%)	0
Q10. When I perform self-examination I am taking care of myself
Strongly agree	1329 (59%)	93 (66%)	0.78
agree	806 (36%)	43 (31%)
uncertain	95 (4%)	4 (3%)
disagree	3 (0%)	0
strongly disagree	2 (0%)	0
Q11. Self-palpation is embarrassing
Strongly agree	30 (1%)	3 (2%)	< 0.05*
agree	86 (4%)	7 (5%)
uncertain	140 (6%)	3 (2%)
disagree	787 (35%)	55 (39%)
strongly disagree	1192 (53%)	72 (51%)
Q12. Self-palpation takes too long
Strongly agree	11 (0%)	1 (1%)	0.08
agree	52 (2%)	1 (1%)
uncertain	292 (13%)	10 (7%)
disagree	1073 (48%)	63 (45%)
strongly disagree	807 (36%)	65 (46%)
Q13. It is difficult to remember to do breast checks
Strongly agree	58 (3%)	1 (1%)	< 0.05*
agree	344 (15%)	13 (9%)
uncertain	371 (17%)	11 (8%)
disagree	880 (39%)	52 (37%)
strongly disagree	582 (26%)	63 (45%)
Q14. I have no privacy to perform the breast check
Strongly agree	9 (0%)	1 (1%)	0.05*
agree	83 (4%)	2 (1%)
uncertain	145 (6%)	7 (5%)
disagree	937 (42%)	51 (36%)
strongly disagree	1061 (47%)	79 (56%)
Q15. My breasts are too big by self- examination
Strongly agree	21 (1%)	2 (1%)	0.05*
agree	76 (3%)	4 (3%)
uncertain	279 (12%)	25 (18%)
disagree	942 (42%)	64 (46%)
strongly disagree	917 (41%)	45 (32%)
Q16. I have more important problems than self-palpation
Strongly agree	8 (0%)	0	0.11
agree	31 (1%)	3 (2%)
uncertain	108 (5%)	5 (4%)
disagree	896 (40%)	48 (34%)
strongly disagree	1192 (53%)	84 (60%)
Q17. Can I perform self-examination correctly
Strongly agree	269 (12%)	30 (21%)	< 0.05*
agree	905 (40%)	60 (43%)
uncertain	838 (37%)	38 (27%)
disagree	171 (8%)	10 (7%)
strongly disagree	52 (2%)	2 (1%)
Q18. Would like more information about self-examination
Yes	1952 (87%)	90 (64%)	< 0.001***
No	283 (13%)	50 (36%)
Q19. Do you find the general practitioner useful for info on self-examination
Yes	1664 (74%)	83 (59%)	< 0.001***
No	571 (26%)	57 (41%)
Q20. Do you find the oncologist useful for info on self-examination
Yes	1800 (81%)	116 (83%)	0.58
No	435 (19%)	24 (17%)
Q21. Do you find the nurse useful for info on self-examination
Yes	1104 (49%)	58 (41%)	0.081
No	1131 (51%)	81 (59%)
Q22. Do you find the psychologist useful for info on self-examination
Yes	278 (12%)	14 (10%)	0.50
No	1957 (88%)	126 (90%)
Q23. Do you find the breast specialist useful for info on self-examination
Yes	2172 (97%)	136 (97%)	1
No	63 (3%)	4 (3%)
SECTION 4: KNOWLEDGE AND USE OF APPS DEDICATED TO BSE
Q24. Do you know or use dedicated applications for self-palpation?
No	2189 (98%)	136 (97%)	0.53
Yes	46 (2%)	4 (3%)
Q25. Use BreastTest
I do not use any application	255 (11%)	18 (13%)	0.30
Never	734 (33%)	41 (29%)
Rarely	26 (1%)	5 (4%)
Occasionally	13 (1%)	1 (1%)
Often	3 (0%)	0
Always	2 (0%)	1 (1%)
missing	1202 (54%)	74 (53%)
Q26. Do you use Igyno?
I do not use any application	252 (11%)	18 (13%)	0.60
Never	725 (32%)	40 (29%)
Rarely	31 (1%)	5 (4%)
Occasionally	15 (1%)	0
Often	4 (0%)	0
Always	2 (0%)	1 (1%)
missing	1206 (54%)	76 (54%)
Q27. Do you use Breast Cancer Indicators?
I do not use any application	251 (11%)	18 (13%)	0.40
Never	734 (33%)	40 (29%)
Rarely	22 (1%)	5 (4%)
Occasionally	13 (1%)	0
Often	3 (0%)	0
Always	0	1 (1%)
missing	1212 (54%)	76 (54%)