Empowering Factors Among Breast Cancer Screening Compliant Underserved Populations
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in all women. Breast cancer mortality can be reduced by 50% by mammography screening. Unfortunately, mammography usage is still underutilized by all groups especially low income and minority women. With insurance, the most common objective barrier removed, still, a vast majority of eligible women are not receiving free mammograms. However, 30% of women with comparable backgrounds to the non-compliant group have indeed obtained regular mammograms. Our purpose is to study these underserved compliant women who could provide clear insight regarding what triggered their behavior change, despite all barriers. A novel approach is to focus on what empowers these women to be successful. We believe that this research will discover those key factors of the success which should be replicable in their non-compliant counterparts. Results from the focus group discussions captured themes that emerged into three distinct areas of public health care; first, issues related to health care delivery system; second, economic issues and the third, focuses on issues that can be addressed with personal empowerment. The first one (published), revealed the way care is delivered has a dramatic impact on the patient-provider interaction and the outcomes experienced by the patient. The health care system must reexamine its processes and procedures including the role of physicians, health care staff, their level of understanding the needs of patients, and health facility management.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2001
- Accession Number
- ADA398988
Entities
People
- Nasar U. Ahmed
Organizations
- Meharry Medical College