Aims: To explore breast health awareness and the early diagnosis and detection methods of breast cancer from the perspective of women and primary healthcare providers in Saudi Arabia.
Background: A high incidence of advanced breast cancer exists in Saudi Arabia, particularly among younger women. This is due to poor awareness of breast cancer and its management, social customs and poor breast health awareness among healthcare providers.
Design: Qualitative exploratory study.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted in eight states across the Jizan region of Saudi Arabia. Purposive sampling was used to recruit Saudi women (N = 24), general practitioners (N = 20), and nurses (N = 20). Semi-structured interviews were conducted from November 2015-February 2016. Inductive thematic analysis was undertaken.
Results: Overarching themes centred on culture, religion, and resources. Novel key findings from this study confirm that Saudi women require more health education about breast cancer and breast cancer screening. The study has provided important new knowledge in relation to Islamic concept of preserving health, social barriers, cultural taboos, misconceptions, and myths that currently exist surrounding breast cancer in Saudi Arabia.
Conclusion: This study provides new evidence on the complexity of poor breast health awareness and lack of resources in Saudi Arabia. Additional resources are needed to remove such barriers and provide targeted health education and services.
Impact: This research informs breast cancer service provision for Muslim or Arab women internationally as they share cultural resources or Islamic principles to follow a healthy lifestyle and help promote the uptake of breast cancer screening services.
目的: 从沙特阿拉伯妇女和初级医疗保健提供者的角度来探讨乳房健康意识和乳腺癌的早期诊断和检测方法。 背景: 沙特阿拉伯的晚期乳腺癌发病率很高,尤其是年轻女性。这是由于医疗保健提供者对乳腺癌及其治疗方法、社会习俗和乳房健康的意识差。 设计: 定性型探索性研究。 方法: 在沙特阿拉伯吉赞地区的八个州进行本定性研究。有目的抽样用于招募沙特妇女(24名)、全科医生(20名)和护士(20名)。从2015年11月至2016年2月进行了半结构化访谈。也进行了归纳型主题性分析。 结果: 总体主题围绕文化、宗教和资源。本研究的新型关键发现证实,沙特妇女需要更多关于乳腺癌和乳腺癌普查的健康教育。这项研究提供了与伊斯兰养生理念、社会壁垒、文化禁忌、误解和沙特阿拉伯乳腺癌现存谬见相关的重要新知识。 结论: 这项研究为沙特阿拉伯乳房健康意识差和资源匮乏的复杂性提供了新证据。需要额外资源来消除这些壁垒,并提供有针对性的健康教育和卫生服务。 影响: 本研究为国际上穆斯林妇女或阿拉伯妇女提供乳腺癌服务提供了信息,因为她们共享文化资源或伊斯兰原则,以便于遵循健康的生活方式,并帮助促进乳腺癌筛查服务的理解。.
Keywords: Saudi Arabia; breast cancer; breast health awareness; general practitioners; health promotion; nursing; qualitative; screening; women's health.
© 2019 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.