Abstract
Background:There is growing evidence on cancer communication and its impact on cancer-related health outcomes; however, little is known about how women gain access to and use breast cancer information in the multi-ethnic Asian context. This paper aimed to explore the breast cancer information acquisition behaviours and needs among Singapore women who attended a community-based health organisation for mammography screening. Methods, design and setting:Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 37 racially diverse, aged 50 and above women, who have received mammography screening within the past two years. The interviews were conducted at either the Singapore Cancer Society Clinic or participant’s home. Results:Although cancer information scanning was more prevalent than information seeking (91.9% vs. 62.2%), those who purposively seek information exhibited a higher knowledge level of breast cancer. The most commonly cited sources for information scanning were friends, television and family, and for information seeking were the Internet, pamphlets from a healthcare organisation/ public authority, and healthcare providers. Singapore women were well-informed about the benefits of mammogram; however, specific knowledge, such as modifiable risk factors, reasons for different screening options and the trade-off between harm and benefit, was still lacking which led to confusion about screening.Conclusion:Breast cancer health educational materials should provide clear and balanced information to give women a more accurate or realistic expectation about mammography screening. Study findings provide important implications for breast cancer education and programs to move beyond simply raising awareness and craft specific informative messages addressing the needs of the target group.
Highlights
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis and the leading cause of cancer deaths among Singapore women
Study findings provide important implications for breast cancer education and programs to move beyond raising awareness and craft specific informative messages addressing the needs of the target group
Singapore Cancer Society (SCS) Clinic @ Bishan provides free mammography screening for female Singaporeans aged 50 years and above, holding a valid blue or orange Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) card, which indicates that their household monthly income per person was below 2000SGD (~1450USD) when receiving the mammography screening
Summary
Breast cancer is the most common cancer diagnosis and the leading cause of cancer deaths among Singapore women. The age-standardized breast cancer incidence in Singapore is much lower than those in Western countries, it has the highest incidence in Asia with a rate of 70.7 per 100,000 (National Registry of Diseases Office, 2021) While it is a significant public health concern in the country, only one in three Singapore women had undergone regular mammography screening in the past two years according to the clinical recommendations (Loy et al, 2015). In response to the high breast cancer incidence and low screening rate, the Singapore Health Promotion Board (HPB) has established the Screen for Life - Breast Cancer Screening Programme to raise public awareness and promote early cancer detection, reducing the burden of breast cancer mortality and improving treatment outcomes This nationwide programme provides mammography screening at subsidised rates to all women above the age of 50 (Health Promotion Board, 2020). Study findings provide important implications for breast cancer education and programs to move beyond raising awareness and craft specific informative messages addressing the needs of the target group
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