Barriers to breast cancer screening in Australia: experiences of women with physical disabilities

Kath Peters and Antoinette Cotton

Journal of Clinical Nursing, 2015, vol. 24, issue 3-4, 563-572

Abstract: Aims and objectives To explore the experiences of breast cancer screening for women with physical disabilities. Background Despite women with disabilities having the same or greater risk of having breast cancer than women without disabilities, they are less likely to uptake breast cancer screening services. Design Qualitative descriptive study. Methods Twelve women with physical disabilities were recruited for the purpose of this study. Data were collected via semi‐structured face to face or telephone interviews. Interviews were transcribed and data were analysed thematically. Results Overwhelmingly, participants conveyed that their breast screening experiences were negative. The following four themes describe the experiences of breast cancer screening for women with physical disabilities: feeling I'm not in control; being ignored and not listened to; being helpless, alone and afraid and; experiencing pain, torture and humiliation. Conclusions Women with physical disabilities experience substantial barriers to breast cancer screening. This research highlights that the attitudes and poor communication skills of health professionals served as a deterrent to future screening for participants. Relevance to clinical practice By exploring experiences of women with physical disabilities of breast cancer screening, nurses and other health‐care professionals can use this to develop and implement optimal approaches, such as collaborative models of care which empower women with disabilities.

Date: 2015
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https://doi.org/10.1111/jocn.12696

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:wly:jocnur:v:24:y:2015:i:3-4:p:563-572

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