Revised 02/03/2012
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AMAZING!! The OutRageously PiNk Nite, Bangsar Village II, Opinion Poll Report, Kuala Lumpur – Feb 2010
By Dr Evelyn Ho 
An opinion poll was carried out on OutRageously PiNk Nite, 7 Nov 2009. A group of about 40 volunteers consisting of the 1st Kuala Lumpur Girls’ Brigade as well as those from various walks of life surveyed shoppers and visitors in the Bangsar Village II vicinity. It was no easy task, and despite the lack of requirement for names or identification details, demographic details were incomplete for age group to broad categories of profession. Even so, when it came to the survey on their opinions on several questions, the response was good. Thank you to all the volunteers for the hard work of amassing opinions in just a few hours of the event. Some volunteers reported exhaustion and loss of voice! Out of the 915 survey forms that were returned, only 801 were analysed as in these the basic demographic data of age group, ethnicity and gender was complete. 96.9% of the people in and around Bangsar Village II in Bangsar Baru, Kuala Lumpur felt this was a good method to promote breast health awareness. 88.3% said it stimulated their curiosity about breast health and about 84.9% felt this kind of event could attract the male population to take an interest in breast health issues. Although 85.4% felt breast health campaigns have increased over the years, there were comments that it is still not enough. Feedback included breast health campaigns should be carried out in all cities in the states, that there was still more to do, and the younger generation should be targeted. Campaigns should focus on information and education and using the powerful electronic media. Many felt there should have been more advertisements and promotions as other corporates had done for their breast health/cancer campaigns. Some felt the OPN2009 was just entertainment and should have had educational content as well.
Of the respondents, 26% were males and the rest females. 49% were Chinese, 26% were Malays, Indians formed 15% and those from other ethnic groups or nationalities formed 10%. Most of them were in the 21-40 year age group (60%), whilst 13.7% were younger than 21 years old, whilst 9.2% were those above 50 years old.Poll Demographics 37.7% felt they knew the difference between complementary and alternative therapy but of these, 76.5% believed in alternative therapy. Complementary therapies are those taken/given in addition to mainstream evidence based treatment such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormonal therapy. These would include qigong, meditation, massage, aromatherapy and other forms of treatment that will act to help the person through her treatment for breast cancer. Alternative therapy on the other hand, replaces standard breast cancer treatment and may involve herbal therapies and others which could not normally be substantiated other than by anecdotal testimonies. These include special diets or medication. People with breast cancer undergoing alternative therapy would not be undergoing surgery for their breast cancer.
Whatever the feedback, the OPN would have achieved its ultimate objective of making people sit up and ask, “what’s going on?” As there were many activities, especially in the Klang Valley, for the International Breast Cancer Awareness Month of October, some of which were packed with talks, forums, “free” breast checks and other promotions, the OPN organizing committee felt OPN2009 should not replicate the efforts of others. OPN was to attract those who felt breast cancer would be a remote possibility or felt they were too young to think of breast cancer. It was targeted at the younger age group and the males. Men have an important role to play in breast health because in Asian communities as heads of households, brothers, bosses, colleagues, friends or otherwise, their support and advice weighed heavily. In addition, men also have a risk of breast cancer themselves and should be aware of this.
Budget was very limited, and therefore large scale advertising and promotions for OPN2009 was not possible. Even so, thank you to BFM89.9 for inviting Dr Evelyn Ho to speak on breast health/self breast awareness and for giving an opportunity to promote OPN2009 on the radio. In addition, Bangsar Village did have a run up of activities during the Stand Up For Pink programmes throughout the month of October 2009. Amongst these were several activities including an inquiry/counseling booth during weekends and educational talks, such as “Me & My Breasts”. Therefore, OPN2009 was not just all entertainment, it was the culmination of a month of breast cancer/health awareness programmes.
The involvement of the Girls’ Brigade as volunteers also enabled us to reach another group of youth in a more involved manner. The 1st KL GB had an induction talk and preparatory session for their stint in Bangsar Village II.
| | OPN 2009 Opinion Poll | YES % | | Do you think that OPN is a good method to promote breast health awareness? | 96.9 | | Did the OPN stimulate your curiosity about what breast health is all about? | 88.3 | | Do you think that having the OPN is one way of attracting the male population to be more interested in breast health issues? | 84.9 | | In your opinion, has the breast health campaigns increased? | 85.4 | | Do you know the difference between ALTERNATIVE and COMPLEMENTARY therapy? | 37.7 | | Do you think ALTERNATIVE therapy is effective? | 76.5 | | Do you think you are/will be at risk of breast cancer? | 61.8 | | Do you personally know anyone with breast cancer? | 44.1 |
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Of those who knew someone with breast cancer, topping the list was friends, followed by relatives (mothers, fathers, aunties, sisters, cousins and in-laws). The others were colleagues, neighbours, clients and patients (doctors were present at the event).
Comments Received During the Poll
Positive Comments - AMAZING!!
- Thank you
- Wonderful!
- Excellent!
- Very attractive
- Good for the public
- Carry on as it is a good awareness event
- Good job as breast cancer is something people do not champion. OPN creates awareness
- Good programme. Should get everyone involved
- Fantastic event. Very well organised. Keep it up!
- Well done, keep it up! Cool term to use, Ethnic Group instead of Race
- Good step taken. Bravo and credit to the Girls’ Brigade
Less favourable comments 1. It is just entertainment. Should have more graphics and photographs to show breast health/breast cancer.
2. Not enough publicity of this event. Inadequate advertising and promotion for OPN 3. Not sure what the questionnaire hopes to achieve. Before one starts asking about therapy, we should create awareness about breast cancer- who is at risk, symptoms and how to conduct self breast examination 4. I think it promotes you can survive breast cancer but does not tell much about prevention and early detection 5. Description of OPN should be provided during the survey 6. Not a good location, small crowd Suggestions - More campaigns should be held for breast cancer awareness, in all cities in Malaysia.
- Should focus on information and education
- Have more awareness and ways to prevent breast cancer
- Do campaigns in the Bukit Bintang or other community areas
- Have more functions in schools and universities
- Should increase awareness through public engagement
- Should be done more often
- More needs to be done to make people aware of the importance of exercise, diet, healthy attitudes to reduce/avoid illness
- Women in Malaysia needs to educate themselves more about breast cancer and take steps to be breast health aware
- Still MORE TO DO!!!
- Check one’s breasts and see the doctor if you detect any abnormalities
- Keep doing more in terms of improving treatment/medication
- Show some interview or documentary clips to let us know more about breast cancer
- Cooperate with the Government
- More promotion like Advertisement on TV, Radio
- More campaigns to advise testing. More about prevention
- Please have public talks on breast cancer every year
- The media should help promote this everywhere, not just Bangsar
- The promotion would be more effective on electronic media
- Do more campaigns. Do free breast screening during OPN
Grand Conclusion
Despite all the programmes, there are still communities that have not been reached, the advertisements and public campaigns have not reached everyone and the younger generation should be made aware. Educational campaigns must continue on multimedia on a regular basis to maximize the reach. OPN2009 may be over but feedback shows that THERE IS STILL MORE TO DO!
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 NCR 2003 Report: Breast Cancer is still the top cancer amongst women 
Latest statistics from
the National Cancer Registry (NCR) show
that lung cancer is the most common cancer experienced by men in the country, whilst
breast cancer is the top cancer in women. Lung cancer accounts for 13.8 per cent of cancer cases among men. For women, breast cancer accounts
for 31 per cent of cases. Click here for National Cancer Registry Reports | |
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