Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Screening Practices Among Arabic Women Living in the State of Qatar: The Health Care Providers' Perspective

Hwang, Jasmine

doi:10.5339/qfarf.2013.biosp-05

Cited by 4 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 100 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…However, social barriers and the false beliefs about cancer and its association with death for many society members affect a patient's daily life even by avoiding mentioning its name or talking about topics related to the disease [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. In addition, several studies have showed that in the Arab and Palestinian society, a powerful social stigma is still attached to cancer [13,22,23]. For this reason, breast cancer patients try to hide the diagnosis and treatment from their neighbors, friends and colleagues in the workplace.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Previous research indicates that social support is beneficial to cancer patients in adjusting to the stress of the disease. Drawing on a qualitative content analysis of 36 semi-structured interviews, this article explores sources and types of social support in Arab-Palestinian women with breast cancer. Results show that members of the immediate family, husbands in particular, are reported to be the most supportive social sources. Given the limitations that characterize access to cancer care in the occupied Palestinian territory (OPT) and the collectivistic values of the society, women with breast cancer seem to rely mainly on their husbands to handle emotional, functional and informational needs. Emotional support includes the provision of care, trust, reassurance, and companionship. Functional support includes the practical assistance that the cancer patients receive in terms of financial support, attendance during treatment or help with domestic chores and childcare. Accessing appropriate informational support can be quite challenging in the OPT since available information is not always reliable. The family plays a key role in mediating communication with doctors. Contact with breast cancer patients and survivors is also a source of supporting information, with however a possible negative impact in terms of emotional coping. In this context, the immediate family becomes a fundamental resource for coping and a relational space that mediates connections with others, including doctors, acting as a “proxy” between the patient and the social environment. Findings are discussed in light of the historical and sociocultural context of the OPT.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Furthermore, there remains a strong taboo associated with cancer among Muslim Palestinians, an illness which is commonly perceive as irrevocably terminal by nature [28][29][30][31]. Among Arab women in both Israel and the Gaza Strip, studies have reported breast cancer patients making extreme efforts to hide their illness to the point of eschewing public gatherings and celebrations [28,3].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, this gap between patients and caregivers was not seen in the Muslim group. We hypothesize that the powerful negative stigma that accompanies cancer for Muslim [12,[29][30][31]38] mitigates their ability to adjust toward achievable and meaningful goals. Further, the burden of care in this society is focused on informal caregivers -partners, children and other family members -rather than on formal caregivers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Psychological Reflection of Cultural Diversity: Older Muslim and Jewish Women Diagnosed with Cancer or Caring for a Spouse with Cancer

2022

Int J Nurs Health Care Res

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

BACKGROUNDAs the global population continues to age, the number of women aged 65 + diagnosed with cancer, or caring for a spouse with cancer, continues to increase. The psychological response to cancer among this growing population of patients and informal caregivers has been poorly researched in general, and psycho-oncology literature among older Muslim women research is particularly sparse. This study examines and compares the relationship between depression, hope and perceived support among older Muslim Palestinian and Jewish Israeli women either diagnosed with cancer or informal caregivers of spouses with cancer. METHODSA cross-sectional study of a convenience sample of Muslim Palestinian women (91 patients, 61 spousal caregivers) and Jewish Israelis (127 patients, 214 spousal caregivers) women. Patients were aged ≥ 65, either receiving treatment for active disease or < 6 months from diagnosis. Measurements included depression (Geriatric Depression Scale, 5-item), hope (Snyder's Adult Hope Scale) and perceived social support (Cancer Perceived Agents of Social Support of social support questionnaire). RESULTSOverall levels of depression measured among the Muslim Palestinian women were signi cantly higher than among Jewish Israelis (p < 0.0001). For the Jewish Israelis, higher levels of depression were found among patients compared to caregivers (interaction effect role X ethnicity p < 0.0001). Overall levels of hope among Muslims were higher compared to Jewish Israelis (p < 0.0001), being similar for both patients and caregivers (non signi cant role effect p = 0.094). Hope was higher among Jewish caregivers vs. patients (interaction effect role X ethnicity p < 0.021). Despite a higher number of household members, levels of perceived support from spouse, family, as well as friends and faith, were lower among Muslim Palestinian in general, most signi cantly among caregivers. CONCLUSIONSWe observed signi cant differences in depression, hope and perceived support amaong groups. Our ndings highlight the different psychological responses among older women from different cultural landscapes facing similar confrontation with cancer, either as patients or spousal caregivers. Cultural sensitivity is imperative to guide possible interventions aimed at ameliorating the impact of cancer care upon older women.

show abstract

“…Several studies showed that in the Arab and Palestinian society, a powerful social stigma is still attached to cancer (Hammoudeh et al, 2017 see also Hwang, 2013;Lamyian et al, 2007). Some studies showed that Arab breast cancer patients try to hide their illness to neighbors, friends, and colleagues refraining from socializing and attending gatherings and celebrations (Azaiza & Cohen, 2008; and see also Azaiza et al, 2011;Goldblatt et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Religiosity as a Cultural Resource for Arab-Palestinian Women’s Coping with Cancer

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Drawing on the discourse analysis of 36 in-depth interviews, this qualitative study explores how Arab-Palestinian women cope with breast cancer and ascribe meaning to their illness within the local religious and traditional cultural context. In particular, the study shows that religious beliefs and practices help Arab-Palestinian women to handle emotional and psychological difficulties while perpetuating traditional cultural norms of concealment. Two main functions of religiosity as a coping resource are analyzed by (a) managing distress and identity crisis and (b) changing the meaning of the illness experience. In this sociocultural context, the practice of religious rituals provides cancer patients with an effective and culturally situated instrument for coping with a deep existential crisis. Practical implications of the study are discussed in the conclusions.

show abstract

Factors Influencing Breast Cancer Screening Practices Among Arabic Women Living in the State of Qatar: The Health Care Providers' Perspective

Cited by 4 publications

References 100 publications

Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory

Social support for breast cancer patients in the occupied Palestinian territory

Psychological Reflection of Cultural Diversity: Older Muslim and Jewish Women Diagnosed with Cancer or Caring for a Spouse with Cancer

Religiosity as a Cultural Resource for Arab-Palestinian Women’s Coping with Cancer

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About