Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention on Awareness of Breast and Cervical Cancers and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Among Healthcare Professionals in Primary Health Centers of Davanagere District, Karnataka, India

Breast and cervical cancers are among the most prevalent malignancies affecting women in India, and despite being largely preventable and treatable when detected early, inadequate public awareness and poor screening practices continue to contribute to high morbidity and mortality. Healthcare professionals working at the primary health center (PHC) level play a crucial role in community education, early detection, and timely referral. This quasi-experimental pre-test and post-test study was conducted among 206 healthcare professionals from 48 PHCs in Davanagere district, Karnataka, India, to evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educational intervention in improving awareness of breast and cervical cancer. Knowledge was assessed using a validated 18-item Kannada questionnaire covering symptoms, risk factors, screening guidelines, breast self-examination, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, and Papanicolaou (Pap) smear practices. Participants underwent a 45-60-minute structured educational session, and pre-test and post-test scores were compared using a paired t-test. The mean pre-test score of 13.33±2.64 improved significantly to 17.43±0.69 following the intervention (p<0.0001). Nursing officers constituted the largest proportion of participants (27%), followed by primary healthcare officers (PHCOs) (22%) and doctors (20%), and a significant improvement in awareness was observed across all professional categories. The findings demonstrate that structured educational interventions are effective in enhancing awareness of breast cancer, cervical cancer, and HPV vaccination among PHC-level healthcare workers, highlighting the importance of regular training programs to strengthen early cancer detection and timely referral to higher healthcare centers.