Breast cancer delay: a grounded model of help-seeking behaviour

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Health Services Research
• Sociology of Health

Background:

• Conventional breast cancer delay definitions rely on arbitrary time cut-offs.
• Existing studies on cancer delay often lack theoretical grounding, focusing narrowly on patient or provider factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a multidimensional model for understanding breast cancer delay.
• To move beyond traditional, atheoretical definitions of patient and provider delay.

Main Methods:

• Grounded theory approach using in-depth interviews with symptomatic breast cancer patients.
• Utilized the theory of illness behavior to inform the conceptualization of delay.

Main Results:

• Pre-diagnostic delay involves more than individual patient factors.
• Post-diagnostic delay is influenced by healthcare system aspects, not solely provider actions.
• Delay is an interplay of socio-cultural context, individual characteristics, social network interactions, and healthcare service elements.

Conclusions:

• A multidimensional model offers a more comprehensive understanding of breast cancer delay.
• Future research must integrate diverse dimensions of patient experience and healthcare systems for a holistic approach to cancer delay.