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ERIC Number: EJ1190785
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2018-Sep
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1354-4187
EISSN: N/A
Exploring Breast Cancer and Screening Awareness among Irish Women with Intellectual Disabilities
Reidy, Mary; Denieffe, Suzanne; Foran, Sinéad
British Journal of Learning Disabilities, v46 n3 p193-201 Sep 2018
Background: Internationally, it is known that there are gaps in cancer and screening awareness among women with intellectual disabilities. Little is known about this awareness among Irish women with intellectual disabilities. The aim of this study was to explore this awareness among these women. Materials and Methods: The study design incorporated a cross-sectional descriptive survey using an accessible version of the Cancer Research UK Cancer Awareness Measure. The questionnaire was administered to women with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities (n = 45, age range 20-59 years) living in the South East of Ireland. Results: Almost three quarters of the women (77.8%) recognised a breast lump as a breast cancer warning sign. Knowledge about nonlump warning signs was much lower; 40% of the women did not feel confident that they would notice a change in their breast; 80% of the women could not recall a breast cancer risk factor. Overall, there was poor awareness of the national breast screening programme in Ireland. Worry and embarrassment about talking about their breasts would put women off seeking early medical intervention. Conclusion: There was poor awareness about breast cancer warning signs, risk factors and the breast screening programme among the women. Where women with intellectual disabilities are lacking this knowledge, breast cancer warning may be missed. Carers and intellectual disability services need to ensure that theoretically based cancer and screening education interventions are undertaken which will enable these women to identify warning signs and seek attention promptly.
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Ireland
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A