Motivators and barriers to mammography screening uptake by female health-care workers in primary health-care centres: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND

Mammography screening is an effective tool for early detection and management of breast cancer. Female health-care workers' awareness of breast cancer screening is important because their beliefs and behaviours could influence other women. The aim of this study was to assess mammography screening uptake by female health-care workers at primary health-care centres and to identify the primary motivators and barriers that affect uptake.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study included all governmental primary health-care centres in the West Bank. Governorates were grouped into three regions as follows: north West Bank (Nablus, Jenin, Tulkarm, Tubas, Qalqiliya, and Salfit), middle West Bank (Jerusalem, Jericho, and Ramallah), and south West Bank (Hebron, and Bethlehem). The study population included all female health-care workers older than 40 years. Those who performed mammography for a suspected mass or other breast abnormalities were excluded. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data on demographic characteristics, knowledge about mammography screening, the extent and regularity of mammography screening, and motivators and barriers influencing their mammography screening uptake. The rate of mammography screening uptake was calculated. χ test and t tests were used to assess screening motivators and barriers. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of the An-Najah National University. Participation was voluntary, and written consent was obtained from each participant.

FINDINGS

299 female health-care workers completed a self-administered questionnaire. The mean age of the participants was 46 years (SD 4·7). 284 (95%) women had adequate knowledge about breast cancer and mammography screening, and 149 (50%) women reported having had at least one mammogram. 62 (21%) women had had regular scheduled mammograms. The most frequent reported motivators were the perceived benefit that early detection of breast cancer is important for its management (269 [90%] women) and the belief that mammography can detect breast cancer before its symptoms appear (251 [84%] women). The most frequent barrier to mammography screening was being busy (140 [47%] women) and the lack of perceived susceptibility (125 [42%] women).

INTERPRETATION

Mammography screening was suboptimal in a population of female health-care workers. Educational interventions are needed to remove barriers that limit compliance to recommendations and to emphasise the importance of early detection in breast cancer management. Ensuring the availability and accessibility of screening services, particularly for health-care workers within their work settings, would improve the acceptance and compliance for mammography screening programmes.

FUNDING

None.