Karbani Gulshan, Lim Jennifer N W, Hewison Jenny, Atkin Karl, Horgan Kieran, Lansdown Mark, Chu Carol E
Yorkshire Regional Genetic Service, Department of Clinical Genetics, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Leeds General Infirmary, and School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2011;12(6):1619-26.
Little is known about the influence of culture and beliefs about breast cancer, and its implications on preventive health behaviour among South Asian people in the UK.
Using a qualitative approach, 24 South Asian breast cancer patients and their significant others were interviewed.
Most patients were unfamiliar with the subject of cancer; they expressed lack of knowledge of cancer as a disease and its symptoms. They identified a painless lump in the breast as sign of abnormality, but not cancer. They also did not know any non-lump breast symptoms. Over half participated in breast screening after encouragement from daughters or relatives. Most did not practise breast self-examination. Perceptions of cancer and health behaviour were influenced by cultural beliefs. Common themes were cancer is a taboo subject and cancer is a stigma. Patients also expressed misunderstandings about the cause of cancer. Cancer in the family had ramifications on children' s marriage prospects and may cause marital breakdown. Terminology used also caused communication problems with healthcare professionals and within the family: the use of ' chest' to substitute ' breast' changed the meaning of the message conveyed.
Cultural beliefs and practices accentuate difficulties in understanding breast cancer, breast screening and breast self-examination, and can prevent South Asian women from adopting preventive health practices.
关于文化及对乳腺癌的观念及其对英国南亚裔人群预防性健康行为的影响，我们知之甚少。
采用定性研究方法，对24名南亚裔乳腺癌患者及其重要他人进行了访谈。
大多数患者对癌症主题并不熟悉；他们表示对癌症作为一种疾病及其症状缺乏了解。他们将乳房中无痛肿块视为异常迹象，但并非癌症迹象。他们也不知道任何非肿块性乳房症状。超过半数患者在女儿或亲属的鼓励下参加了乳房筛查。大多数人没有进行乳房自我检查。对癌症的认知和健康行为受到文化观念的影响。常见主题包括癌症是一个禁忌话题以及癌症是一种耻辱。患者还表达了对癌症病因的误解。家族中有癌症会对子女的婚姻前景产生影响，并可能导致婚姻破裂。所使用的术语也给与医疗保健专业人员的沟通以及家庭内部沟通带来了问题：用“胸部”代替“乳房”改变了所传达信息的含义。
文化观念和习俗加剧了理解乳腺癌、乳房筛查和乳房自我检查的困难，并可能阻碍南亚裔女性采取预防性健康措施。
