The outcome of breast cancer (BC) treatment depends on the timing of its detection. However, womens’ adherence to screenings programmes is relatively poor with the average attendance in the EU being below 70%. There are many contributing factors with caregiving for a person with a chronic disease being a significant contributor to poor screening adherence. The purpose of this qualitative research was to investigate informal carers’ knowledge of BC, screening guidelines recommended practices and attitudes about the importance of screening for early detection of BC symptoms.
Two small-scale field research activities with expert health professionals and female informal carers from three countries were conducted in the period between December 2019 - March 2020. Participants were recruited according to predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Participant’s perceptions were retrieved from focus groups starting with those with the informal carers. Following informed consent 21 informal carers and 18 professionals participated through purposive sampling.
The findings revealed several motivational factors and barriers which are at the basis of the lack of preventive practices. The motivational factors that emerged through caregivers personal experiance were: perceived responsibility towards her own family to take care, experiences of close people who died from cancer. The barriers that emerged included: lack of the time to perform Breast self-examination, difficulties going to the hospital due to the caregiving duties, fears and feelings of guilt in dedicating time for oneself. Additional more generic barriers included: lack of knowledge and skills, fear of discovering anomalies/of getting sick, discomfort and pain during the screening tests and forgetting/failing to practice a routine of health prevention.
This research provided evidence on the ways that the role of informal carer can influence breast cancer preventing practices. The findings highlight the necessity to provide appropriate support to informal carers for better meeting the expectations of the role and allowing the engagement in appropriate preventive practices.
Cyprus University of Technology and Erasmus +.
Erasmus +.
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.