Evaluation of Barriers Preventing Regular Mammography Screening.

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of women's breast cancer worry, breast cancer fear, cancer information overload, and mammography barrier perception on undergoing mammography.

Sample & setting: 263 women aged 40-69 years who presented for any reason at the Cancer Early Diagnosis, Screening, and Education Center or the Family Health Center in Turkey were included. Data were collected from January to March 2023.

Methods & variables: This cross-sectional study assessed breast cancer worry, breast cancer fear, cancer information overload, and mammography barrier perception.

Results: Age, a health professional's referral, knowledge about screening, lack of time, postponement, and mammography-related pain were factors that affected whether patients underwent screening. Those who were having regular screening tests had higher levels of cancer worry, and those who had never been screened had higher mammography barrier perception. The variables considered in the structural equation modeling differed in terms of those who were screened regularly, irregularly, or never.

Implications for nursing: This study showed that women's breast cancer worry, breast cancer fear, cancer information overload, and mammography barrier perception affected their screening adherence. Each woman must be assessed individually to identify and address perceived barriers.