Barriers and Facilitators Related to Breast Cancer Screening

Abstract

Recent literature indicates that women with various types of chronic disabling conditions are less likely to participate in routine breast cancer screening than those without disabling conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators related to breast cancer screening among women with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 36 women with MS, whose mean age was 55 years, participated in a semistructured interview in a private setting. The interviews were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. The interview questions, informed by the Health Belief Model, addressed knowledge, experience, barriers, and facilitators related to breast cancer screening. Qualitative descriptive techniques were used to analyze the data. About 94% of the women in the sample were white, 67% were married, 47% had at least a bachelor's degree, and 31% were unemployed because of their disability. The results showed that 70% of these women had received annual mammograms and 50% had performed monthly breast self-examinations. Of the women who had not received mammograms, most (80%) had mobility limitations. Some of the women in this study described various environmental and intrapersonal barriers to breast cancer screening. Among these were barriers related to transportation, difficulty in positioning for the examination, health-care provider attitudes, not remembering, fear, discomfort, and “having enough to handle.” Facilitators included annual reminders and helpful health-care providers.