1. Perceptions of Arab men regarding female breast cancer screening examinations—Findings from a Middle East study
- Author
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Mohamed Ghaith Al-Kuwari, Mariam Malik, Nabila Al-Meer, Tam Truong Donnelly, Rajvir Singh, Salha Bujassoum Al-Bader, and Al Hareth Al-Khater
- Subjects
Male ,Health Screening ,Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice ,Social stigma ,Medical Doctors ,medicine.medical_treatment ,Health Care Providers ,Culture ,Social Stigma ,lcsh:Medicine ,Geographical Locations ,Breast cancer screening ,0302 clinical medicine ,Surveys and Questionnaires ,Cancer screening ,Breast Tumors ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Ethnicities ,Public and Occupational Health ,030212 general & internal medicine ,lcsh:Science ,Early Detection of Cancer ,Qualitative Research ,Multidisciplinary ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,Gender Identity ,Arabs ,Professions ,Incentive ,Oncology ,030220 oncology & carcinogenesis ,Practice Guidelines as Topic ,Female ,Cancer Screening ,Research Article ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Asia ,Breast Neoplasms ,Nonprobability sampling ,Interviews as Topic ,03 medical and health sciences ,Breast cancer ,Diagnostic Medicine ,Physicians ,Breast Cancer ,medicine ,Cancer Detection and Diagnosis ,Humans ,Family ,Qatar ,Radical mastectomy ,Gynecology ,Health Care Policy ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Cancers and Neoplasms ,medicine.disease ,Health Care ,Socioeconomic Factors ,Family medicine ,People and Places ,Women's Health ,lcsh:Q ,Population Groupings ,Perception ,business ,Screening Guidelines ,Qualitative research - Abstract
Objectives In the Middle East, Qatar in particular, the incidence of breast cancer has substantially increased in recent years, and is expected to double by 2030. This diagnosis also occurs at a later stage in the disease. Early detection along with proper treatment reduces radical mastectomy and mortality rates, yet only one-third of Arab women in Qatar participate in breast cancer screening (BCS) activities of any sort. Many women in the conservative Qatari society rely on male family members for support and protection. This study investigates the attitudes and perceptions of Arab men in regards to breast cancer screening and what they see as both incentives and barriers to women's participation in BCS activities. Design A qualitative methodology using purposive sampling technique was chosen in order to explore participant's attitudes, beliefs and health-related actions. Individual in-depth interviews with open-ended questions were conducted with 50 Arab men during October 2011 to May 2012. Data collection, analysis, and interpretation occurred simultaneously. NVivo 9, a qualitative data analysis software program was used to organize themes and subthemes. Results It was found that most men understood the importance of regular BCS in early detection of breast cancer. They felt they had an important role in encouraging the women in their lives to participate in BCS activities, but were adamant that any examination must be done by a female health care professional. Few knew details about screening guidelines in Qatar, but most had a basic knowledge of some screening activities. Most indicated an interest in learning more about BC and screening activities in order to better help and inform their female family members. Conclusion Because Arab men perceive that their opinions and support are a major factor influencing female family members' participation in breast cancer screening, it is important that any program instituted to increase such screening participation be aimed at both men and women. More information is needed by both sexes as to the need for and benefits of regular screening activities, the techniques used, and the newly revised guidelines in Qatar. Such a program needs to be introduced in the near future in order to avert, at least partially, the expected doubling in breast cancer cases by 2030 in the Middle East.
- Published
- 2017