title: Factors Affecting Preferences of Iranian Women for Breast Cancer Screening Based on Marketing Mix Components.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  According to recent statistics, the breast cancer rate is growing fast in developing countries. In North West Iran, the incidence of breast cancer after esophageal and gastric cancers has the highest rate. Previous studies have also indicated that women in this region show reluctance to do breast cancer screening. There is a great need for change to promote breast cancer screening among women. Social marketing is a discipline that uses the systematic application of commercial marketing techniques to promote the adoption of behavior by the target audience.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the present qualitative study, thirty-two women with breast cancer were interviewed about their experiences of breast cancer screening. A semi-structured interview guide was designed to elicit information specific to the 4 P's in social marketing.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three main categories emerged from the analysis: price, service and promotion. Subcategories related to these main categories included factors effective in increasing and decreasing cost of screening, current and desirable features of screening services, and weakness of promotion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Screening programs should be designed to be of low cost, to meet patients' needs and should be provided in suitable places. Furthermore, it is essential that the cultural beliefs of society be improved through education. It seems necessary to design an executive protocol for breast cancer screening at different levels of primary health care to increase the women's willingness to undergo screening.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Group, Faculty of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardebil, Iran E-mail : n.fouladi@arums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Farhad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pourfarzi
authors.forename: Nasrin
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fouladi
authors.forename: Firouz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Amani
authors.forename: Saeid Sadegieh
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Ahari
authors.forename: Zohre
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Roshani
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alimohammadi
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D040241:Social Marketing