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Exploring breast cancer and screening awareness among Irish women with intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- REIDY Mary, DENIEFFE Suzanne, FORAN Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 46(3), 2018, pp.193-201.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
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. (Publisher abstract)
Cancer screening in women with intellectual disabilities an Irish perspective
- Authors:
- REIDY Mary, DENIEFFE Suzanne, FORAN Sinead
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 18(1), 2014, pp.51-60.
- Publisher:
- Sage
- Place of publication:
- London
In the Republic of Ireland, more than 8000 women with intellectual disabilities (IDs), aged 20 years and over, are registered for service provision. Their health needs challenge preventative health services including breast and cervical cancer screening programmes. This review explores the literature about cancer screening participation rates and issues related to screening for Irish women with IDs. Low cancer screening participation rates are evident in Irish women with IDs; and the women shed light on the barriers they perceive related to the screening experience. These experiences are reflected in the international literature for women with IDs. Further research involving the assessment of the breast and cervical cancer awareness in Irish women with IDs and their participation in cancer screening programmes is recommended. Strategies are required to increase their participation in screening programmes that may lead to the earlier diagnosis with better outcomes. (Publisher abstract)