title: Beliefs and attitudes about breast cancer and screening practices among Arab women living in Qatar: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite rising breast cancer incidence and mortality rates, breast cancer screening (BCS) rates among women in Qatar remain low. Previous studies indicate the need to better understand the many complex beliefs, values, and attitudes that influence Arab women's health seeking behavior for the development of culturally appropriate and effective intervention strategies to address breast cancer in the Middle East. This study investigates beliefs, attitudes, and BCS practices of Arabic-speaking women in Qatar.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicenter, cross-sectional quantitative survey of 1,063 (87.5% response rate) Arabic-speaking female Qatari citizens and non-Qatari residents, 35 years of age or older, was conducted in Qatar from March 2011 to July 2011. Associations between beliefs and BCS practice were estimated using chi-square tests and multivariate logistic regression analyses. Participants who adhered to BCS guidelines (BCS practice = Yes) were compared to those who did not (BCS practice = No).
  
  
  RESULTS
  In addition to low levels of awareness and low participation rates in BCS, one quarter of the participants stated their doctors talked to them about breast cancer, and less than half of the women interviewed believed breast cancer can be prevented. Women who engaged in BCS practice were more likely to have a doctor who talked to them about breast cancer, to believe they were in good-excellent health, that cancer can be prevented, or that cancer might be hereditary. The majority wanted to know if they had cancer and felt their health care needs were being met. The main reasons given for not planning BCS were lack of a doctor's recommendation, fear, and embarrassment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicate that a variety of channels (health care providers, media, breast cancer survivors, community leaders) should be utilized to create culturally appropriate breast cancer intervention programs and increased awareness of breast cancer, BCS, and the benefits of early detection of breast cancer. Employment of these measures will reduce breast cancer mortality rates among Arabic-speaking women living in the State of Qatar.
authors: University of Calgary, 2500 University Dr, NW, Calgary, Alberta, T2N 1 N4, Canada. tdonnell@ucalgary.ca.
authors: Tam Truong
authors: TT
authors: Donnelly
authors: Al-Hareth
authors: AH
authors: Al Khater
authors: Salha Bujassoum
authors: SB
authors: Al-Bader
authors: Mohamed Ghaith
authors: MG
authors: Al Kuwari
authors: Nabila
authors: N
authors: Al-Meer
authors: Mariam
authors: M
authors: Malik
authors: Rajvir
authors: R
authors: Singh
authors: Sofia
authors: S
authors: Chaudhry
authors: Tak
authors: T
authors: Fung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018912:Arabs / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D011780:Qatar; D014930:Women / Q000523:psychology*