Processes inherent in mammography-screening decisions of rarely or never-screened women.
Breast cancer is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity. A strong association exists between survival and early detection through regular mammography. Impoverished women underuse this life-saving screening, resulting in a disproportionate cancer burden. The study purpose is to discover the process of rarely or never-screened women's mammography-screening decisions. The sample consists of five rural, low-income, uninsured, and rarely or never-screened women. Grounded theory methodology is used to generate a new theoretical explanation of mammography-screening decision making. Findings include the central conceptual categories, intuitive dominance and intuitive certainty, which contribute toward an intuitive decision-making default. This intuitive thinking style weaves throughout two interrelated categories: (a) scarce, supportive, relational resources for learning and (b) dichotomous health care-seeking behaviors. Implications focus on a nontraditional client assessment whereby nurses can facilitate relational-based knowledge construction. Recommendations for future research include examination of the process of integrating intuition with reasoned thought for more fully informed decisions.
Purtzer
Mary Anne
MA
Fay W. Whitney School of Nursing, College of Health Sciences, University of Wyoming, Dept. 3065, 1000 E. University Ave., Laramie, WY 82071-2000, USA. mpurtzer@uwyo.edu
D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008960:Models, Psychological