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Despite the importance of timely diagnosis and access to treatment, previous studies have not adequately explored help-seeking behavior in cancer treatment among rural and remote residents. The barriers preventing help-seeking behavior also remain unclear. To address this research gap, this study conducted a scoping review to suggest a framework for eliminating barriers and facilitating help-seeking for cancer treatment among rural and remote residents. To conduct the scoping review, three English medical databases (PubMed, MEDLINE, and CINAHL) were examined for the keywords "rural," "remote," "cancer," and "help-seeking." The research objectives and study designs, participants, and excerpts describing help-seeking of the selected papers were recorded in a data charting form. Descriptions of help-seeking behavior were organized and summarized according to their meaning and integrated into factors using thematic analysis. All extracted factors related to help-seeking were sorted into four main themes according to the Ecological Model of Health Behavior, the theoretical lens for this scoping review: (1) Intrapersonal; (2) Interpersonal; (3) Groups, culture, and organizations; and (4) Policy/environment. Factors were categorized as barriers and facilitators of help-seeking. A total of 13 papers were analyzed. Intrapersonal factors such as self-reliance, symptom appraisal, and fatalism, were identified as barriers to help-seeking, whereas presentation of abnormal and serious symptoms facilitated help-seeking. Interpersonal factors such as lack of understanding of family members, influence of surrounding people, role obligations, and lack of trust in experts hindered help-seeking, whereas understanding from surrounding people such as family and friends, promoted help-seeking. Groups, cultural, and organizational factors such as prejudice, social stigma, shame, lack of anonymity, and social norms acted as barriers to help-seeking. Policy-related barriers to help-seeking included lack of medical services and physical distance from medical institutions, leading to a time burden. The study discussed the identified factors from a rural context. Future studies should consider the identified barriers and facilitators according to the four main themes in rural areas when formulating interventions to promote help-seeking. Our findings can offer a theoretical foundation to develop actionable policies, preventive strategies, and relevant interventional tools that may facilitate oncological service utilization in rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To identify the influencing factors in help-seeking behavior by comparing delayers with non-delayers in Japanese female patients with breast cancer. Methods This is a descriptive qualitative study. A total of 21 female patients with breast cancer (nine delayers and 12 non-delayers) who were at least 3 months to 5 years postdiagnosis were recruited from two hospitals in Okinawa, Japan. Semistructured interviews were carried out and the results were analyzed by using a qualitative inductive approach. Results The comparison between the delayers and non-delayers showed eight barriers to help-seeking behavior that were unique to the delayers: (i) the appearance of symptoms that cannot be definitely linked to breast cancer; (ii) anxiety and fear; (iii) the necessity to prioritize the immediate needs of daily life; (iv) non-disclosure of the situation; (v) the view that medical care is a nuisance; (vi) a desire to surrender to the natural course of things; (vii) confidence that they would not develop cancer; and (viii) inaccessibility of medical facilities. A common trigger for help-seeking that was identified in both the delayers and the non-delayers was the presence of other persons who encouraged seeking a provider evaluation. Conclusion The barriers to help-seeking that were found in this study (namely, the emotional reaction and difficult living conditions) are common worldwide. The Japanese patients with breast cancer in the sample tended to emphasize their relationship with family and friends in their help-seeking behavior, which is a common content in Japanese and other Asian cultures. Therefore, health professionals should assess the social conditions of their patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are limited data on the factors associated with menopausal symptoms, lifestyle behaviors, and other factors. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between menopausal symptoms and lifestyle behaviors and other variables in breast cancer patients. Symptom Management Model. Methods: A descriptive and cross-sectional design was employed at two cancer hospital in Japan. The subjects were 162 convenience samples aged 40-65 years for women with breast cancer during endocrine therapy. Breast cancer patients completed a self-report questionnaire after giving informed consent. The main instruments were the Simplify Menopausal Index (SMI), the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), researcher-developed lifestyle checking sheet and demographic data. For the analysis, we divided the subject into 2 groups by menopausal severity. Multiple logistic analysis was performed to identify related factors of menopausal severity. Results: Breast cancer patients who had severity menopausal symptoms were significantly associated with under 50 years old, no period, having stress or depression, high cholesterol, however, not associated with diet or excise. According to the logistic regression analysis focusing on factors which had effects on menopausal symptoms, the odds ratio were as follows: under 50 years old (3.93), no period (5.37), total cholesterol (1.01), stress (1.87). Conclusion: From the results of this study, nurses can understand the menopausal symptoms by patients' background and their physical conditions. Nurses need give this information and support their self-care behaviors for breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]