title: Factors that influence mammography screening behaviour: a qualitative study of Greek women's experiences.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the factors that influence mammography screening behaviour in a sample of Greek women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected in Athens-Greece, from individuals who were members of six women's associations. A subset of 33 women were interviewed about their screening behaviour and experiences out of the 186 women who completed an initial questionnaire. This paper focuses on the findings revealed from the interviews. Women's associations were approached for the recruitment of the interviewees.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Influences arising from women's immediate networks, such as family and close friends, appeared to be of essential importance in relation to their screening behaviour, while influences from their broader networks were of moderate impact. Fear acted as a motivator but also as a barrier in relation to mammography screening participation. Experiences that arose from engagement with the mammography screening processes were mostly characterized by having to overcome a variety of obstacles, such as long bureaucratic procedures and distrust in doctors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The interpersonal relationships between women and their social networks appeared to have an important and influential role in relation to breast screening behaviour. The quality of these relationships appeared to determine women's participation in mammography screening. It would appear that future practice needs to focus on these relationships in order to utilize them in a positive way. Future research is needed to explore this further.
authors.affiliation: The University of Nottingham, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Physiotherapy, B Floor (South Block Link), Queen's Medical Centre, Nottingham NG7 2HA, UK. kakaterina@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Aikaterina
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kaltsa
authors.forename: Aisha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Holloway
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cox
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003466:Cultural Characteristics; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008327:Mammography / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires