Fatalism in breast cancer and performing mammography on women with or without a family history of breast cancer

Internet-based eHealth technology for emotional well-being among the older adults with a family cancer history: full mediation effects of health information self-efficacy and cancer fatalism

BACKGROUND

Older adults with a family cancer history (FCH) face an increased cancer risk, which may adversely impact their emotional well-being. Internet-based eHealth technologies (IETs) provide a potential solution to this challenge. This study examines the influence of using IETs on the emotional well-being of older adults with FCH. It also delves into the mediating pathways through health information self-efficacy and cancer fatalism.

METHODS

This study conducted a mediation analysis using data from the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS 6) collected from March 2022 to November 2022, focusing on older adults with FCH who had previously searched for cancer-related information (N = 1,280).

RESULTS

In the mediation model, no positive direct associations between IETs usage and emotional well-being were found. Only health information self-efficacy and cancer fatalism were found to mediate the relationship between IETs usage and emotional well-being serially (β = 0.007, 95% CI [0.003, 0.012]).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings inform health information professionals and healthcare practitioners on enhancing the impact of IETs usage on individual health information self-efficacy, which mitigates cancer fatalism, contributing to better emotional well-being in the digital era.

Social determinants of health and health inequities in breast cancer screening: a scoping review

Introduction

This scoping review aims to highlight key social determinants of health associated with breast cancer screening behavior in United States women aged ≥40  years old, identify public and private databases with SDOH data at city, state, and national levels, and share lessons learned from United States based observational studies in addressing SDOH in underserved women influencing breast cancer screening behaviors.

Methods

The Arksey and O'Malley York methodology was used as guidance for this review: (1) identifying research questions; (2) searching for relevant studies; (3) selecting studies relevant to the research questions; (4) charting the data; and (5) collating, summarizing, and reporting results.

Results

The 72 included studies were published between 2013 and 2023. Among the various SDOH identified, those related to socioeconomic status (n = 96) exhibited the highest frequency. The Health Care Access and Quality category was reported in the highest number of studies (n = 44; 61%), showing its statistical significance in relation to access to mammography. Insurance status was the most reported sub-categorical factor of Health Care Access and Quality.

Discussion

Results may inform future evidence-based interventions aiming to address the underlying factors contributing to low screening rates for breast cancer in the United States.

Effective strategy to cope the pain and discomfort among women undergoing mammography - A randomized controlled trial

Objectives

To evaluate the role of paracetamol in reducing pain and discomfort during the mammography procedure.

Methods

This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial was conducted at DIR, Ojha and LEJ Campus of DUHS from November 2019 to May 2021. All females aged above 40 years undergoing first time mammogram (screening or diagnostic) were enrolled. Of 639 included participants, 321 were included in paracetamol and 318 in placebo group. Patients in both the groups took medication orally which was customized by the Dow Pharmacy. The degree of pain felt during the mammography procedure was the outcome variable that was measured using Visual Analogue Scale.

Results

The overall pain was found in 506 (79.19%) women. Pain was significantly higher in women who were in placebo group as compared to patients who were in paracetamol group, i.e., 280 (55.3%) and 226 (44.7%) (p-value <0.001). After adjustment of other covariates, the odds of pain was 3.64 times significantly higher in women who were in placebo group than that of women in paracetamol group (OR 3.64, 95% CI 2.31-5.74). Moreover, >25kg/m2 BMI was 2.84 times, 22.6-25 kg/m2 BMI was 2.29 times, nulligravida was 3.56 times, menopausal status was 2.23 times, pre-menopausal status was 4.51 times, and family history of breast cancer was 2.33 times significantly more likely to have pain. No post-trial complications were observed in both the groups.

Conclusion

The use of paracetamol prior to the mammography procedure was found to be an effective intervention to reduce the pain among women.Clinical Trials: Identifier: NCT04381104.

Evaluation of Health Science Students' Health Fatalism and Perception Towards Patients With Epilepsy: A Cross-Sectional Global Study

Introduction The social acceptance of patients with epilepsy is largely determined by society's opinion of epilepsy; therefore, individuals with epilepsy could face prejudice and stigma as a result of negative impressions. Religious beliefs and mystical notions have been shown to influence attitudes toward epilepsy. Health fatalism could also be detrimental to society's and caregivers' approach toward such patients. In extreme settings, this could hinder them from obtaining an adequate treatment process. Methods A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted from February 2022 to May 2022 in Saudi Arabia, Spain, Scotland, and Italy using an online questionnaire consisting of 33 questions concerning the Health Fatalism Scale (HFS), the Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (EKS), and the Epilepsy Attitude Scale (EAS). Results A total of 735 health science students (HSS) participated in the present study. The majority of participants were females (64.1%) while male participants represented 34.6% of the study. Health science students currently studying in Saudi Arabia represented the majority of participants with a percentage of 58.5%. Among the four countries, students in Saudi Arabia presented with the highest knowledge mean score. Students in Spain had the highest mean attitude score. Muslim students had the highest mean fatalism scores followed by Christian students. Conclusion In general, a high level of knowledge was observed among the participants, most notably, among Saudis who presented with the highest level of knowledge across the four countries. Regarding attitude, Spanish students presented the best attitude towards patients with epilepsy. Low fatalism scores were commonly observed across all countries regardless of their different demographic characteristics. Fatalism perception should be further detailed to ensure optimal services are delivered without prejudgment by future healthcare workers.

Evaluation of nursing students' health fatalism, knowledge, and attitudes toward patients with epilepsy

AIM

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between nursing students' health fatalism, epilepsy knowledge, attitudes, and some sociodemographic variables.

METHODS

The descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted with 423 nursing department students who were studying at a state university and who agreed to participate in the study in the Elazığ province in eastern Turkey during the 2020-2021 academic year. The data were collected using a Sociodemographic Information Form, the Health Fatalism Scale (HFS), the Epilepsy Knowledge Scale (EKS), and the Epilepsy Attitude Scale (EAS).

RESULTS

The nursing students had total mean scores of 46.95 ± 12.98, 6.94 ± 3.81, and 50.19 ± 8.47 for the HFS, EKS, and EAS, respectively. A positive and significant correlation was found between the EKS and EAS scores. First-year students had lower HFS scores than students in their second and fourth years. Third- and fourth-year students, those living in rural areas, and those who had patients with epilepsy in their families or immediate environments had higher EKS scores. Female students and those who had patients with epilepsy in their families or immediate environments had higher EKS and EAS scores. A significant positive correlation was found between age and the EKS score, whereas a significant negative correlation was found between age and the EAS score.

CONCLUSION

While nursing students generally had low levels of epilepsy knowledge, they had positive attitudes toward epilepsy and moderate levels of health fatalism. The study found that students' positive attitudes toward epilepsy increased as their levels of knowledge about the disorder increased. Age, gender, educational status, place of residence, the presence of a chronic disease, and knowing someone with epilepsy all affected HFS, EKS, and EAS scores.

Determinants of Intention to Participate in Breast Cancer Screening among Urban Chinese Women: An Application of the Protection Motivation Theory

Despite the significance of early detection of breast cancer through screening, the screening uptake in China remains relatively low. Protection motivation theory (PMT) suggested by Rogers is one of the theories concerning threat appeal. This study aimed to apply the protection motivation theory (PMT) in predicting breast cancer screening intention. In this cross-sectional study, a sample of Chinese urban women was recruited using the convenient sampling method from five communities in Wuhan. Data were collected using a self-report questionnaire that included demographic variables, knowledge about breast cancer, six PMT subconstructs, and screening intention. We used the structural equation modeling (SEM) to identify the predictor factors associated with screening intention. Of the total sample (n = 412), 86.65% had intention to participate in screening. Our data fit the hypothesized SEM model well (Goodness of fit index (GFI) = 0.91, adjusted GFI (AGFI) = 0.89, comparative fit index (CFI) = 0.91, root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) = 0.05, standardized root mean residual (SRMR) = 0.06, and Chi-square/df = 2.01). Three PMT subconstructs (perceived severity, response cost, and self-efficacy) were significantly associated with screening intention. Knowledge, social status, and medical history had significantly indirect associations with screening intention through the mediating effect of PMT subconstructs. Considering the utility of PMT, intervention programs might be more effective based on the subconstructs of PMT, especially to improve self-efficacy, perceived severity, and knowledge, reduce response cost, as well as targeting specific demographic groups.

Mammogram uptake and barriers among Palestinian women attending primary health care in North Palestine

Background

Breast cancer affects women's lives worldwide, yet early detection is an effective strategy for reducing mortality. The participation of women in mammography screening is linked to their knowledge, attitudes and perceived barriers.

Objectives

Our study aims to assess mammography screening uptake and barriers among women attending primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in northern Palestine.

Methods

Using an interviewer administered questionnaire, we used a cross-sectional study design to determine mammography screening uptake, knowledge and barriers among 357 women attending PHCs in Northern Palestine between December 2018 and March 2019.

Results

The mean age was 50 years. The majority (69.2%) were considered to have adequate knowledge about breast cancer and mammography screening. Mammography screening uptake among the participants was 37%. Almost 85% of the women had a positive attitude towards breastfeeding as a prophylaxis factor against breast cancer, while the most frequent barrier to mammography screening was that the participants believed they did not have any symptoms (28.6%), followed by 22.1% of them who did not want to know if they had breast cancer.

Conclusion

The findings of this study highlighted the low mammography uptake among Palestinian women despite the adequate knowledge of those women and the fully accessible and free screening programme. Hence, interventional strategies should be implemented at several levels to enhance mammogram uptake.

Evaluation of attitudes toward epilepsy and health fatalism in northeastern Turkey

PURPOSE

This study was carried out to identify the attitudes toward epilepsy, health fatalism, and the factors affecting these in individuals living in Artvin in the northeast of Turkey.

METHOD

This descriptive and cross-sectional study involved 1443 healthy individuals at a hospital in Artvin in northeastern Turkey between January and March 2020. An individual information form, an epilepsy attitude scale, and a religious health fatalism scale were used to assess their views. An independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and Pearson correlation analysis were used to analyze the data.

RESULTS

The mean score of participants' attitudes on epilepsy was 48.17 (standard deviation (SD) = 12.93), while the mean of their health fatalism score was 48.43 (SD = 17.41). There was a significant negative correlation between attitude scores and health fatalism (r = -0.084, p = 0.001). Significant differences were found among attitude, health fatalism mean scores, and misconceptions associated with religion about epilepsy being a contagious, psychiatric, and incurable disease that should be hidden. Significant differences were additionally observed among attitude, health fatalism mean scores, and education, marital status, income, employment status, and presence of chronic disease (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

It was found that most individuals had moderate level attitude toward epilepsy and had high health fatalism. Individuals with a high degree of health fatalism were found to have more negative attitude toward epilepsy. Attitude was found to be more negative, and health fatalism was found to be higher in individuals with low education level, low-income level, who were married, who were unemployed, who had a chronic disease, and in those who thought epilepsy was a contagious, psychiatric, and incurable disease associated with religion that should be hidden.

IMPLICATIONS

It is recommended that health professionals organize training programs to increase public understanding of epilepsy, improving individual attitudes toward the condition, and minimizing health fatalism.

A review of barriers and facilitators to mammography in Asian women

Aim

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Asia and one of the major health problems in most countries in the region. Despite extensive advances in treatment, early diagnosis is one of the main methods for increasing the survival rate. It is necessary to evaluate the barriers and facilitators of screening in different societies. This study was conducted to identify the barriers and facilitators of mammography in Asia.

Materials and methods

To identify the barriers and facilitators of mammography in Asia, a comprehensive search was carried out in databases such as Medline, Web of Science Core Collection and Scopus using keywords, including breast cancer, screening, mammography, barriers, facilitators and the names of each Asian country, as well as a combination of these keywords were used to help the search. Full-text, English language and original articles were included in this study.

Results

In total, 71 articles were entered into the study. The findings of this study revealed various barriers to mammography in Asian women, including knowledge, sociodemographic factors, cost and insurance, cultural factors, belief, attitude and feeling, fear, pain and embarrassment, self-efficacy, religious, psychological factors, time constraint, fatalism, professional recommendations, communication, social support and access. Also, knowledge, attitude and belief, perceived risk, professional and social factors were found to be facilitators of mammography.

Conclusion

Knowing the barriers and facilitators to access mammography is the first step in the development of a successful screening program. Awareness and various personal, professional and social factors have emerged as the major barriers to access to mammography in most Asian countries.