title: Barriers to breast cancer screening in Australia: experiences of women with physical disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the experiences of breast cancer screening for women with physical disabilities.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Despite women with disabilities having the same or greater risk of having breast cancer than women without disabilities, they are less likely to uptake breast cancer screening services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Qualitative descriptive study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve women with physical disabilities were recruited for the purpose of this study. Data were collected via semi-structured face to face or telephone interviews. Interviews were transcribed and data were analysed thematically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overwhelmingly, participants conveyed that their breast screening experiences were negative. The following four themes describe the experiences of breast cancer screening for women with physical disabilities: feeling I'm not in control; being ignored and not listened to; being helpless, alone and afraid and; experiencing pain, torture and humiliation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Women with physical disabilities experience substantial barriers to breast cancer screening. This research highlights that the attitudes and poor communication skills of health professionals served as a deterrent to future screening for participants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By exploring experiences of women with physical disabilities of breast cancer screening, nurses and other health-care professionals can use this to develop and implement optimal approaches, such as collaborative models of care which empower women with disabilities.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing & Midwifery, University of Western Sydney, Penrith, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kath
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Antoinette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cotton
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D001315:Australia; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D036301:Qualitative Research
keywords: breast cancer; disability; inequalities in health; primary care; qualitative study; reproductive health; screening; women's health