Examination of Breast Cancer Screening Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs among Syrian Refugee Women in a Western Canadian Province

Breast cancer awareness among women of reproductive age- a questionnaire based study

INTRODUCTION

Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women worldwide, and its prevalence is rising among younger women of reproductive age. The study aims to investigate their awareness of breast cancer risk factors, warning indicators, and preventive methods. The study also aimed to assess participants' knowledge of breast self-examination (BSE) and their practices with this crucial screening method.

METHODOLOGY

To achieve these goals, we used a cross-sectional survey employing a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire included multiple-choice and open-ended items about breast cancer awareness, knowledge, and practices.

RESULTS

There were 400 questionnaires given out to female patients attending the out-patient department, and 290 of them were completed and returned. The majority of responders to our poll, 88 %, were aware that breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women. The fact that 57 % of the individuals never examined their own breasts is a worrying result. There was a statistically significant difference between knowledge and family history (X2 = 13.8, P < 0.001) and knowledge and schooling (X2 = 6.4,P < 0.001). Both the practise of BSE and knowledge of BC were good in respondents under the age of 45, however they differed statistically significantly (X2-2.8,P = 0.041 and X2-2.6, P = 0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Understanding the extent of breast cancer awareness and knowledge gaps in this population is critical for planning targeted interventions and educational efforts. By identifying areas where knowledge is weak, healthcare practitioners and governments can implement policies to encourage early detection practices, reduce delays in seeking medical aid, and ultimately improve breast cancer outcomes.

Factors influencing breast cancer screening practices among women worldwide: a systematic review of observational and qualitative studies

BACKGROUND

The variation in breast cancer incidence rates across different regions may reflect disparities in breast cancer screening (BCS) practices. Understanding the factors associated with these screening behaviors is crucial for identifying modifiable elements amenable to intervention. This systematic review aims to identify common factors influencing BCS behaviors among women globally.

METHODS

Relevant papers were sourced from PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Google Scholar. The included studies were published in English in peer-reviewed journals from January 2000 to March 2023 and investigated factors associated with BCS behaviors.

RESULTS

From an initial pool of 625 articles, 34 studies (comprising 29 observational and 5 qualitative studies) with 36,043 participants were included. Factors influencing BCS behaviors were categorized into nine groups: socio-demographic factors, health status history, knowledge, perceptions, cultural factors, cues to action, motivation, self-efficacy, and social support. The quality appraisal scores of the studies ranged from average to high.

CONCLUSIONS

This systematic review highlights factors pivotal for policy-making at various levels of breast cancer prevention and assists health promotion professionals in designing more effective interventions to enhance BCS practices among women.

Conceptualization of Breast Cancer and Attitudes toward Breast Cancer Screening: A Qualitative Study on Iranian and Australian Women

OBJECTIVE

Regular screening can lead to early diagnosis of breast cancer. Australia is one of the countries with a high rate of participation in breast cancer screening, while in Iran, most patients are diagnosed in advanced stages. This qualitative study used a thematic analysis method to examine the attitudes and beliefs of Iranian and Australian women toward breast cancer and breast cancer screening.

METHOD

In-depth interviews were conducted with eight Iranian and seven Australian women. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis with an inferential approach.

RESULTS

According to the results, four main themes were extracted for the perceptions of breast cancer, including "the meaning of breast cancer", "causes of breast cancer", "prevention of breast cancer" and "effects of significant people in life". Considering the perceptions of breast cancer screening, three themes were identified, including "beliefs about breast cancer screening," "sources of information about breast cancer screening," and "barriers to breast cancer screening."

CONCLUSION

Cultural and social factors influence women's perceptions of breast cancer and screening. Therefore, investigating the cultural meaning of breast cancer and breast cancer screening for women can be useful for screening and prevention purposes.

The Role of Islamic Beliefs in Facilitating Acceptance of Cancer Diagnosis

Although survival rates for patients with cancer have increased, this disease continues to affect couples significantly. Religion and culture seem to be part of the therapeutic process for people with cancer. Despite the abundance of the Arab Muslim community in Western countries, there is a lack of documented data on Arab Muslim couples experiencing cancer. A simple exploratory qualitative study was conducted through semi-structured interviews on six married couples (n = 12) identifying with the Arab Muslim culture and being affected by cancer. An iterative data analysis was performed. Results were reported under the following themes: accepting illness through coping strategies provided by Muslim religious beliefs and practices, experiencing problems with the expression of needs and feelings within the couple, experiencing closeness within the family, and experiencing illness in the hospital setting as Muslims. Our results show that Islamic beliefs can facilitate acceptance of a cancer diagnosis. It is also noted that religion seems to unite spouses in supporting each other and maintaining hope in a difficult context. Communication issues may persist between a couple due to stressors related to cancer. The results of this study could raise awareness about the importance of exploring religious and spiritual beliefs when supporting couples affected by cancer.

Overcoming challenges to breast cancer screening among Muslim women: addressing barriers to early detection and treatment: A correspondence

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths and is the most common type of cancer diagnosed in women. In an attempt to decrease its mortality, screening guidelines recommend mammograms, breast self-examinations, and breast clinical examinations for women above the age of 40. Compliance to these guidelines have been found to be significantly low in Muslim women which has been linked to their perceptions of religious guidelines regarding modesty and fatalism. In order to overcome these barriers and increase screening rates among Muslim women, faith-based intervention has been proven to be effective as it incorporates the use of religious leaders and allows the concerns of women to be addressed directly.

Effectiveness of breast cancer screening interventions in improving screening rates and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women: A systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

To systematically assess the effectiveness of breast cancer (BC) interventions in improving breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE), mammogram screening rates, and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women.

DESIGN

Guided by the Health Belief Model, a mixed method systematic review and meta-analysis was performed using a sequential design.

METHODS

This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis statement (PRISMA), the Critical Appraisal Skill Program Checklists, and the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for systematic review and meta-analysis. A systematic search of English-language peer-reviewed articles was undertaken in multiple health and social sciences databases from January 1, 2015, to March 31, 2022. Randomized clinical trials and quasi-experimental studies focused on the uptake of BSE, CBE, and mammograms were selected.

RESULTS

Fourteen articles were included in the review. Most of the studies relied on quasi-experimental designs and were carried out in the United States of America. The qualitative analysis of BC screening interventions generated three themes: (1) education, (2) access-focused, and (3) cultural and faith-based. The meta-analysis included three randomized control trials and two quasi-experimental studies. The meta-analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of community-led cultural and faith-based interventions in facilitating the completion of CBE and mammography screening. Education on BC and patient navigator interventions are more effectively used in conjunction than standalone interventions, yet community-based cultural and faith-based interventions are the most effective.

CONCLUSION

This systematic and meta-analysis review provides evidence on the effectiveness of access-focused and cultural and faith-based interventions in improving BC screening in Muslim refugee and immigrant women. Future research should focus on designing and measuring the effectiveness of cultural and faith-based interventions to increase Muslim refugee and immigrant women's BC screening knowledge and practices.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This systematic and meta-analysis review demonstrates the need to explore Muslim refugee and immigrant women's cultural contexts for developing culturally sensitive BC screening interventions. Knowledge and practice of BC and religiosity intersect with financial, geographic, and linguistic barriers to decrease participation in screening and preventive activities in Muslim refugee and immigrant women.

Evaluation of Arab Cultural Barriers That Influence Muslim Arab Iraqi Women's Breast Cancer Screening Behavior

OBJECTIVE

Little is known about Iraqi women's practice towards breast cancer screening (BCS), breast self-examination (BSE), clinical breast examination (CBE) and mammography, and the influence of Arab culture. The aim of this study was to assess women's behavior towards BCS, and to explain the influence of specific Arab culture barriers.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This descriptive study was carried out with 1,066 women. Three structured questionnaires were used in the data collection. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were used for data evaluation.

RESULTS

Many Iraqi women did not practice regular BSE, CBE, and mammography. The most common reason was "not having a breast complaint". Specific Arab cultural barriers such as exposure [odds ratio (OR) = 0.545; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.440 to 0.674; p<0.001], environment (OR = 0.571; 95% CI = 0.464 to 0.703; p<0.001) and uneasiness barriers (OR = 0.736; 95% CI = 0.557 to 0.974; p=0.032) were predictors for BSE while exposure (OR = 0.553; 95% CI = 0.447 to 0.684; p<0.001), and environment barriers (OR = 0.585; 95% CI = 0.474 to 0.772; p<0.001) was predictor for CBE. Additionally, exposure (OR = 0.324; 95% CI = 0.251 to 0.419; p<0.001), environment (OR = 0.636; 95% CI = 0.500 to 0.809; p<0.001), and uneasiness barriers (OR = 0.644; 95% CI = 0.464 to 0.893; p = 0.008) were predictors for mammography screening of Iraqi women.

CONCLUSION

Arab specific cultural barriers may be one of the key obstacles to BSC uptake in Iraq. Health education, including cultural education, may have the potential to increase BCS awareness and down-staging of the disease at presentation.

The association between religiosity, spirituality, and breast cancer screening: A cross-sectional analysis of Alberta’s Tomorrow Project

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Religion and spirituality provide a foundation for regulating health behaviors such as cancer screening.

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However, religion and spirituality were not associated with mammography in a population-level sample of women from Alberta, Canada.

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Religion and spirituality may be associated with mammography in population subgroups.

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Future research should employ longitudinal analyses.

Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality among women. Screening permits the early detection and treatment of malignancies, thereby reducing mortality. A woman’s religiosity and spirituality (R/S) may facilitate screening through encouragement of healthy behaviors. Population-level data from Alberta’s Tomorrow Project (ATP) were used to explore the cross-sectional association between R/S and breast cancer screening among women aged 50 to 69 years who did not have a history of breast cancer. Two variables were used to measure R/S: (1) R/S Salience was defined as the importance of religion and spirituality in one’s life; (2) R/S Attendance was defined as the frequency of attendance at religious or spiritual services. We regressed breast cancer screening (mammogram: yes/no) on each R/S variable in separate multivariable logistic regression models. At baseline (n = 2569), 94% of women reported receiving a mammogram. Greater R/S Salience was not associated with receipt of mammogram: the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) was 1.04 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.71–1.51. R/S Attendance also showed no association with mammogram: attending at least once monthly versus never attending (aOR: 1.10; 95% CI: 0.71–1.69); attending one to four times yearly versus never attending (aOR: 0.95, 95% CI: 0.57–1.58). Further research could examine specific subgroups of the population, e.g., whether use of R/S to promote breast cancer screening may be more effective among females with strong pre-existing connections to faith.