Breast cancer screening, diagnostic accuracy and health care policies

Breast cancer, the most common cancer among Arab women in Qatar, significantly affects the morbidity and mortality of Arab women largely because of low participation rates in breast cancer screening. We used a critical ethnographic approach to uncover and describe factors that influence Arab women’s breast cancer screening practices. We conducted semistructured interviews with 15 health care practitioners in Qatar. Through thematic analysis of the data, we found three major factors influencing breast cancer screening practices: (a) beliefs, attitudes, and practices regarding women’s bodies, health, and illness; (b) religious beliefs and a culturally sensitive health care structure; and (c) culturally specific gender relations and roles. Arab women’s health practices cannot be understood in isolation from the sociocultural environment. The problem of low rates of breast cancer screening practices and supportive interventions must be addressed within the context and not be limited to the individual.

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“I Want to Help, but What Do You Do in a Situation Like That?” Health Care Providers' Qualitative Perspectives on Working with Disabled Women in Breast Cancer Screening

Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences ◽

10.1016/j.jmir.2017.08.006 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 49 (4) ◽

pp. 383-389 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M. Bianca Seaton ◽

Linda Muraca ◽

Julie Devaney ◽

Jan E. Angus

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Health Care ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Breast Cancer Screening ◽

Health Care Providers ◽

Care Providers ◽

Disabled Women

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More Than Just a Mammogram: Breast Cancer Screening Perspectives of Relatives of Women With Intellectual Disability

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities ◽

10.1352/1934-9556-52.6.444 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 52 (6) ◽

pp. 444-455 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Nechama W. Greenwood ◽

Deborah Dreyfus ◽

Joanne Wilkinson

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Quality Of Life ◽

Health Care ◽

Intellectual Disability ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Breast Cancer Screening ◽

Breast Cancer Mortality ◽

Family Members ◽

Well Being

Abstract Women with intellectual disability (ID) have similar rates of breast cancer as the general public, but higher breast cancer mortality and lower rates of regular screening mammography. Screening rates are lowest among women who live with their families. Though women with ID often make decisions in partnership with their relatives, we lack research related to family member perspectives on mammography. We conducted a qualitative study of family members of women with ID, with an interview guide focused on health care decision making and experiences, and breast cancer screening barriers, facilitators, and beliefs as related to their loved ones. Sixteen family members underwent semistructured interviews. Important themes included mammography as a reference point for other social and cultural concerns, such as their loved one's sexuality or what it means to be an adult woman; fear of having to make hard decisions were cancer to be diagnosed acting as a barrier to screening; a focus on quality of life; and desire for quality health care for their loved one, though quality care did not always equate to regular cancer screening. Adults with ID are valued members of their families, and their relatives are invested in their well-being. However, families fear the potentially complicated decisions associated with a cancer diagnosis and may choose to forgo screening due to misinformation and a focus on quality of life. Effective interventions to address disparities in mammography should focus on adults with ID and their families together, and incorporate the family context.

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Food security status and breast cancer screening among women in the United States: Evidence from Health and Retirement Study and Health Care and Nutrition Study

10.21203/rs.3.rs-176608/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Asos Mahmood ◽

Satish Kedia ◽

Patrick Dillon ◽

Hyunmin kim ◽

Hassan Arshad ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Breast Cancer ◽

Health Care ◽

Cancer Screening ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Breast Cancer Screening ◽

The United States ◽

The Past ◽

Cancer Screenings ◽

Nutrition Study ◽

Retirement Study

Abstract Purpose: To assesses the impact of food insecurity on biennial breast cancer screenings (i.e., mammography or breast x-ray) among older women in the United States (US).Methods: Data from the 2014 and 2016 waves of the Health and Retirement Study and the 2013 Health Care and Nutrition Study were used. The analyses were limited to a nationally representative sample of 2,861 women between 50 to 74 years of age, residing in the US. We employed a propensity score weighting method to balance observed confounders between food-secure and food-insecure women and fitted a binary logistic regression to investigate population-level estimates for the association between food security and breast cancer screening.Results: Food insecurity was significantly associated with failure to obtain a mammogram or breast x-ray within the past two years. Food-insecure women had 54% lower odds of reporting breast cancer screening in the past two years (OR=0.46; 95% CI: 0.30-0.70, P-value <.001) as compared to food-secure women. Additional factors associated with a higher likelihood of receiving breast cancer screenings included greater educational attainment, higher household income, regular access to health care/advice, not smoking, and not being physically disabled or experiencing depressive symptoms.Conclusion: Results demonstrate a socioeconomic gradient existing in regard to the utilization of regular breast cancer screenings among women. Those who tend to have lower education, lower-income and lack of reliable healthcare access are more likely to be food insecure. Thus, more likely to face the financial, logistical, or environmental barriers in obtaining screening services that accompany food insecurity.

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