Knowledge, Facilitators and Perceived Barriers for Early Detection of Breast Cancer among Elderly Turkish Women

Abstract

This article deals with elderly Turkish women’s experiences with breast self examination, clinical breastexamination and mammography screening, as well as perceived barriers and facilitators in the theoreticalframework of the Health Belief Model and the Health Promotion Model. This is a qualitative study performed on46 elderly women aged 60-75 years. Data were collected with focus group interviews and analyzed systematicallywith qualitative analysis techniques to determine themes concerning knowledge and facilitators of and perceivedbarriers to early detection of breast cancer among elderly women. Barriers to screening were insufficientknowledge, fear, neglect/postponement, embarrassment/religious beliefs, inability to make an appointment, lackof a physician’s recommendation and health professionals’ attitudes. Facilitating factors were being informedabout screening, fear, awareness of cancer screening, familial history of breast cancer and social support, makingan appointment, health professionals’ communication and physicians’ recommendations. Public health nursesand health professionals from other health disciplines should be aware of elderly women’s need for knowledgeabout screening, understand elderly women’s fear and worries about their health and know barriers to andfacilitators of screening.