Table 3 Selected beliefs and attitudes of participants towards cancer, BCS and HCPs (N = 1,063)
Variable | No. (%) of participants |
|---|---|
Health status* | Â |
Poor – Fair | 252 (23.8) |
Good – Excellent | 809 (76.2) |
Is there anything you can do to prevent cancer? | Â |
No/don’t know | 608 (57.2) |
Yes | 455 (42.8) |
Would you want to know if you were diagnosed with cancer? | Â |
No/don’t know | 142 (13.4) |
Yes | 921 (86.6) |
What type of HCP would you prefer? | Â |
Male HCP or no preference | 98 (9.2) |
Female HCP | 965 (90.8) |
Nurse or no preference* | 293 (27.6) |
Doctor | 768 (72.4) |
Non-Arab HCP or no preference | 517 (48.6) |
Arab HCP | 546 (51.4) |
Why do people get cancer? | Â |
It’s God’s punishment |  |
No | 914 (86.0) |
Yes | 149 (14.0) |
It’s fate/destiny |  |
No | 34 (3.2) |
Yes | 1029 (96.8) |
It’s bad luck |  |
No | 960 (90.3) |
Yes | 103 (9.7) |
Cancer is contagious | Â |
No | 1016 (95.6) |
Yes | 47 (4.4) |
Cancer is hereditary | Â |
No | 349 (32.8) |
Yes | 714 (67.2) |
Unhealthy lifestyle | Â |
No | 71 (6.7) |
Yes | 992 (93.3) |
Not breastfeeding their babies | Â |
No | 197 (18.5) |
Yes | 866 (81.5) |
Doctor has talked to participant about breast cancer | Â |
No | 804 (75.6) |
Yes | 259 (24.4) |
Participant feels her healthcare needs are met | Â |
No | 59 (5.6) |
Yes | 1004 (94.4) |
Participant trusts doctor | Â |
No | 18 (1.7) |
Yes | 1044 (98.3) |
Participant feels she is treated respectfully by HCP | Â |
No | 21 (2.0) |
Yes | 1042 (98.0) |
Doctor is understandable | Â |
No | 357 (33.6) |
Yes | 706 (66.4) |
Participant would make mammogram appointment if HCP recommended | Â |
No | 66 (6.2) |
Yes | 997 (93.8) |
Participant would make mammogram appointment if she received letter from HCP recommending it | Â |
No | 439 (41.3) |
Yes | 624 (58.7) |