Department of Reproductive Health and Midwifery, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran.
BMC Cancer. 2024 Sep 28;24(1):1201. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12988-y.
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women worldwide. Early diagnosis of BC could considerably improve outcomes. Since health literacy could influence preventive behaviors and women's ability to make decisions about breast care, therefore, this study aimed to explore breast cancer literacy in women.
This qualitative study was conducted in Iran using the directed content analysis. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews with a purposeful sample of women from April 2021 to June 2022 and continued until saturation was reached. Interviews were analyzed using the initial matrix developed based on the European health literacy framework.
In all twelve women were interviewed. During data analysis, 612 primary codes grouped into four dimension of health literacy (access, understanding, appraise, and apply) of three health domain (health care, disease prevention, and health promotion). Many believed that it was difficult to access accurate information about BC. They used various sources to obtain information. The participants addressed some facilitators and barriers in understanding the information and for information appraisal they mentioned seeking help from health professionals. Through the acquired cognitive skills, the participants took some steps to apply BC information. Also, having information about BC and the involvement of relatives with cancer were indicated as triggers for decision-making on breast care, while poor financial conditions, not having enough information, fear, shame, and embarrassment, were pointed out as inhibiting factors.
The findings suggest that barriers in access, and understanding of information on breast cancer exist among women. The findings also suggest that women's decision-making and preventive behaviors on breast care are much dependent on social and cultural factors.
乳腺癌（BC）是全世界女性最常见的癌症。早期诊断乳腺癌可以显著改善预后。由于健康素养可能会影响预防性行为和女性做出关于乳房护理决策的能力，因此，本研究旨在探讨女性的乳腺癌素养。
本定性研究在伊朗进行，采用定向内容分析法。数据通过对 2021 年 4 月至 2022 年 6 月期间来自不同女性的有目的样本进行面对面访谈收集，并持续至达到饱和。访谈分析采用基于欧洲健康素养框架的初始矩阵进行。
共有 12 名女性接受了访谈。在数据分析过程中，共生成了 612 个初级编码，分为健康素养的四个维度（获取、理解、评估和应用）和三个健康领域（医疗保健、疾病预防和健康促进）。许多人认为很难获得关于 BC 的准确信息。她们使用各种来源获取信息。参与者提到了一些理解信息的促进因素和障碍，并提到在评估信息时寻求健康专业人员的帮助。通过获得的认知技能，参与者采取了一些步骤来应用 BC 信息。此外，了解 BC 信息和亲属患有癌症被认为是决定乳房护理的触发因素，而经济条件差、信息不足、恐惧、羞耻和尴尬等则被指出是抑制因素。
研究结果表明，女性在获取和理解乳腺癌信息方面存在障碍。研究结果还表明，女性在乳房护理方面的决策和预防行为在很大程度上取决于社会和文化因素。
