ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN PREDISPOSING, ENABLING AND NEED FACTORS ON INTENTION FOR MAMMOGRAM SCREENING AMONG SAUDI WOMEN

Abstract

Cancer can be a life-threatening disease, and early screening measures are the cornerstone for decreasing the chances of advanced-stage presentation of breast cancer and eventually reducing mortality rates. Adherence to annual or biennial mammography screening is crucial to diminishing disease prevalence and eliminating breast cancer complications through early detection of the disease. Yet the rate of breast cancer screening has remained extremely low in Saudi Arabia. A clear understanding of Saudi women’s perceptions of breast cancer and mammogram are key to understanding intentions to seek mammography screening among Saudi women. Therefore, the aim of this study is to identify the associations among the predisposing factors, including those related to mammogram use, such as perceived self-efficacy for, benefits of, and barriers to mammogram screening, as well as factors related to perceptions of breast cancer such as perceived threat, fear, and cultural beliefs about breast cancer. The predisposing factors were compared with enabling factors such as education level, annual household income, and previous mammography experience and need factors, including perceived health status, family history of breast cancer, and physician recommendations for mammography. All together, the proposed factors (predisposing, enabling, and need) were related to the outcome of this study, which is intention to seek mammogram screening among Saudi women at the recommended age for breast cancer screening (age 40 to 69 years). Theoretical frameworks used an integration of two of the most accepted behavioral models is used: The Andersen health care utilization model (Andersen, 1968) and the health belief model (Hochbaum, 1958; Rosenstock, 1960; Becker, 1974; Kirscht,1974). Method: A quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional design employing a convenience, volunteer sampling of 194 Saudi women at the age recommended for breast cancer screening. The results indicated that perceived self-efficacy to, and benefits of mammography were the only two significant predictors in the final model. Researchers, health policy makers and health care providers must consider these two factors in their future research and interventions in order to achieve higher uptake of mammography in Saudi Arabia. Keywords: perceptions of breast cancer, perceived self-efficacy, barriers and benefits of mammograms, mammography screening intentions among Saudi women.