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. 2020 Jul:6:1200-1210.
doi: 10.1200/GO.20.00019.

Perceived Fears, Barriers, and Benefits Regarding Breast Cancer Screening: A Comparison of Lebanese and Lebanese-American Women

Laura Bourdeanu  1 , Manal Alatrash  2 , Nayiri Ketchedjian  3 , Barbara Pate  4
Affiliations

Perceived Fears, Barriers, and Benefits Regarding Breast Cancer Screening: A Comparison of Lebanese and Lebanese-American Women

Laura Bourdeanu et al. JCO Glob Oncol. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most prevalent malignancy among Lebanese women, and nearly half of these women are age < 50 years at diagnosis. Despite the current screening guidelines in Lebanon to start mammograms at 40 years of age, monthly self-breast examination, and yearly clinical breast examination, compliance with these recommendations remains low in both Lebanese and Lebanese-American women. This study aimed to examine different factors associated with breast cancer screening compliance in Lebanese and Lebanese-American women and determine and compare factors that predict breast cancer screening for these 2 groups. A cross-sectional study design was used to examine the factors associated with breast cancer screening compliance in Lebanese and Lebanese-American women. A total of 250 Lebanese women and 105 Lebanese-American women completed the questionnaires. Of these, 74.3% of Lebanese-American women and 72.5% of Lebanese women had ever had a mammogram, and 58.4% of Lebanese women had had a clinical breast examination, compared with 84.8% of Lebanese-American women. In both groups, health care provider recommendation was a predictor of having had a mammogram. Although the breast cancer screening practices of both groups are higher than previously reported, they continue to fall below the recommended rate of 81% according to the Healthy People Project. Given the susceptibility of Lebanese women age > 40 years to develop breast cancer, promotional breast cancer screening campaigns must emphasize the importance of adhering to screening guidelines for both Lebanese and Lebanese-American women.

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Conflict of interest statement

Laura Bourdeanu

Stock and Other Ownership Interests: OncoGambit.com

Patents, Royalties, Other Intellectual Property: Cofounder of OncoGambit.com

Nayiri Ketchedjian

Employment: Whole Foods Market

Stock and Other Ownership Interests: Sientra (I)

No other potential conflicts of interest were reported.

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