title: Breast cancer-preventive behaviors: exploring Iranian women's experiences.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Breast cancer-preventive behaviors are critical for community and women's health. Although many studies have addressed women's knowledge and attitudes toward breast cancer, little information is available about their experiences of breast cancer preventive behaviors. This study aimed to explore the experiences of Iranian women regarding preventive behaviors.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a qualitative study. A sample of Iranian women aged 30 years and over was selected purposefully. Data collected through focus group and semi-structured audiotaped interviews and were analyzed by conventional content analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following five main themes emerged from the analysis: attitude toward breast cancer and preventive behaviors, stress management, healthy lifestyle, perceived social support and individual/environmental barriers. The findings showed that women were highly motivated to preventive behaviors of breast cancer but faced considerable challenges.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings indicated that increased awareness, positive attitudes, stronger motivational factors, and fewer barriers toward preventive behaviors are most important parameters that might encourage women to practice breast cancer-preventive behaviors.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khazaee-Pool
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Education and Promotion, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P,O, Box 15875-6951, Tehran, Iran. montazeri@acecr.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Montazeri
authors.forename: Fereshteh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Majlessi
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rahimi Foroushani
authors.forename: Saharnaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nedjat
authors.forename: Davoud
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shojaeizadeh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D016504:Breast Self-Examination / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008019:Life Style; D008327:Mammography; D009042:Motivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012944:Social Support; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000517:prevention & control