Baseline Characteristics

Age (y)

20–29

30–39

40–49

50–59

60–69

Geographic Area

North

Center

South/Islands

Marital status

Married

Divorced

Maiden

Separate

Widow

Education level

Degree

High school graduation

Junior high school diploma

Primary school

None

Employment status

Craftsman

Public Administration

Services/Tertiary

Student

Retired

Unemployed

Questionnaire items

SECTION 1: Knowledge and beliefs about the causes and symptomatology of breast cancer

Q1. Do you think you are well informed about breast cancer?

Very

Quite

Little

Not at all

Q2. Do you think the cause of breast cancer is endocrine?

No

Yes

Q3. Do you think a cause of breast cancer may be previous breast disease?

No

Yes

Q4. Do you think a cause of breast cancer may be food?

No

Yes

Q5. Do you think a cause of breast cancer may be environmental factors and pollution?

No

Yes

Q6. Do you think a cause of breast cancer may be psychological stress?

No

Yes

Q7. Do you think breast pain may be a symptom of cancer?

No

Yes

I don’t know

Q8. Do you think the presence of a palpable nodule may be a symptom of the tumor?

No

Yes

I don’t know

Q9. Do you think that the change in breast shape and size may be a symptom of cancer?

No

Yes

I don’t know

Q10. Do you think nipple discharge may be a symptom of the tumor?

No

Yes

I don’t know

Q11. Do you think that nipple alteration may be a symptom of the tumor?

No

Yes

I don’t know

SECTION 2: Knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer prevention

Q12. Do you think you are well informed about breast cancer prevention?

A lot

Quite

Little

Not at all

Q13. What does prevention mean to you?

Carry out periodic checks

Prevention of risk factors and early diagnosis

Prevention of complications

I don’t know

Q14. If I found a lump, would treatment be more effective?

Strongly agree

Agreed

In disagreement

Strongly disagree

Uncertain

Q15. Do you consider mammography useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q16. What does mammography mean to you?

Breast self-examination and self-palpation

Ultrasound

Oncologist’s physical examination

Radiological examination of the breast

I don’t know

Q17. At what age do you think mammography is recommended?

<20 years old

20–30

30–40

40–50

50–60

60–70

I don’t know

Q18. How often do you think mammography is recommended?

Based on age/familiarity

More than once a year

Once a year

Every two years

I don’t know

Q19. Do you consider clinical palpation useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q20. Do you think bilateral ultrasound is useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q21. Do you think Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q22. Do you consider biopsy useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q23. Do you think Computed Tomography (CT) is useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q24. Do you consider blood tests useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q25. Do you consider the interview with the oncologist useful as an act of breast cancer prevention?

No

Yes

Q26. Have you ever heard of self-examination?

No

Yes

Q27. In your opinion, what does self-examination consist of?

Breast self-examination

Clinical examination of the breast (search for visible and/or palpatory findings at the breast and surrounding areas, e.g., lymphatic drainage areas, axilla, neck)

Breast radiological examination (mammography, ultrasound, MRI, biopsy, chest X-ray, scintigraphy, CT scan, PET/CT, chest X-ray)

I don’t know

Q28. Does self-examination help in breast cancer prevention?

Strongly agree

Agreed

In disagreement

Strongly disagree

Uncertain

Q29. Is self-palpation not necessary if I perform a breast examination?

Strongly agree

Agreed

In disagreement

Strongly disagree

Uncertain

Q30. Is self-palpation not necessary if I perform periodic mammography?

Strongly agree

Agreed

In disagreement

Strongly disagree

Uncertain

Q31. Performing self-examination decreases mortality.

Strongly agree

Agreed

In disagreement

Strongly disagree

Uncertain

Q32. Performing self-examination once a month helps me find lumps.

Strongly agree

Agreed

In disagreement

Strongly disagree

Uncertain