Iranian Women's Experience of Self-Care in Breast Cancer Prevention: A Qualitative Study

The mortality rate of breast cancer has increased in women who are referred late in the advanced stages of their disease, while morbidity and mortality from cancer can be reduced through prevention programs, such as self-care behaviors and early detection. Therefore, more attention should be paid to primary prevention, self-care, and the role of women in breast cancer prevention. The aim of this study was to describe women's experiences of self-care in breast cancer prevention.

In this descriptive-exploratory qualitative study, 38 participants, including 23 women who were eligible for breast cancer screening, eight service providers, and seven health policymakers, were selected by purposive sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using conventional qualitative content analysis. To assess data trustworthiness, Lincoln and Guba's criteria were used.

The results of this study are summarized in one theme, three categories, and eight subcategories. The theme extracted from the data analysis was "the agency of women in self-care in breast cancer prevention," which included three main categories: women's understanding of the concept of self-care in breast health, subjective challenges in breast cancer prevention, and active management and follow-up of breast health status.

This study provided a new understanding of the experience regarding women's self-care in breast cancer prevention. The experiences were in a wide range demanding comprehensive attention. Healthcare authorities/providers can use the findings of this study to develop strategies to support women regarding preventive self-care for breast cancer.