title: Promoting breast health among women in the U.S. Virgin Islands: a focused study of the needs of Caribbean women.
abstract: Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death among women in the United States Virgin Islands. Consequently, the Bureau of Health has identified breast cancer as a priority health concern. Within the medical community, increasing emphasis is being placed on the importance of hereditary, familial, environmental, and behavioral risk factors to breast cancer control. Little research has been conducted regarding these factors, however, to explore their influence on breast cancer detection and breast cancer risk management. This report highlights the outcomes of a study undertaken to explore the associations between breast cancer risk, risk assessment, risk communication, screening, and receptivity to the management of breast cancer risk among women from the United States Virgin Islands. Results of this study suggest a need within the territory to expand the systems that are responsible for monitoring and reporting breast cancer trends; forums to discuss concerns of women relative to breast health; forums to discuss communication with health-care providers; and, research efforts that address breast cancer detection and control among women in the United States Virgin Islands.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin Milwaukee, School of Nursing, Milwaukee, WI 53201, USA. underwoo@uwm.edu
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Underwood
authors.forename: Edith Ramsay
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Callwood
authors.forename: Edris E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: Alina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matthew
authors.forename: Casandra
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scotland-Brooks
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hanley
authors.forename: Damali
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Johnson-Harrigan
authors.forename: Devette
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: LeFlore
authors.forename: Dionne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Harricia
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samuels
authors.forename: Jahtara
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Francis
authors.forename: Jamela
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Arthur
authors.forename: Jowana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clinkscales
authors.forename: Martha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Nihjole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Heskey
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: D'Abreau
authors.forename: Rashima
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Stacey
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Penn
authors.forename: Tameka A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Browne
authors.forename: Tiffany
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Donastorg
authors.forename: Yvette
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Scarbriel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006292:Health Priorities; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000523:psychology; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration*; D015404:Nursing Methodology Research; D010375:Pedigree; D012307:Risk Factors; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014767:United States Virgin Islands / Q000453:epidemiology; D014930:Women / Q000193:education / Q000523:psychology