The role of explanatory models of breast cancer in breast cancer prevention behaviors among Arab-Israeli physicians and laywomen.
BACKGROUND
'Explanatory Models' (EMs) are frameworks through which individuals and groups understand diseases, are influenced by cultural and religious perceptions of health and illness, and influence both physicians and patients' behaviors.


AIMS
To examine the role of EMs of illness (cancer-related perceptions) in physicians' and laywomen's behaviors (decision to recommend undergoing regular mammography, adhering to mammography) in the context of a traditional-religious society, that is, the Arab society in Israel.


METHODS
Two combined samples were drawn: a representative sample of 146 Arab physicians who serve the Arab population and a sample composed of 290 Arab women, aged 50-70 years, representative of the main Arab groups residing in the north and center of Israel (Muslims, Christians) were each randomly sampled (cluster sampling). All respondents completed a closed-ended questionnaire.


RESULTS
Women held more cultural cancer-related beliefs and fatalistic beliefs than physicians. Physicians attributed more access barriers to screening as well as fear of radiation to women patients and lower social barriers to screening, compared with the women's community sample. Higher fatalistic beliefs among women hindered the probability of adherence to mammography; physicians with higher fatalistic beliefs were less likely to recommend mammography.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of cultural perceptions needs to be particularly emphasized. In addition to understanding the patients' perceptions of illness, physicians must also reflect on the social, cultural, and psychological factors that shape their decision to recommend undergoing regular mammography.
['Soffer|Michal|M|', 'Cohen|Miri|M|0000-0003-1220-3852', 'Azaiza|Faisal|F|']
D000368:Aged D018912:Arabs D001943:Breast Neoplasms D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007557:Israel D008327:Mammography D008875:Middle Aged D010820:Physicians
explanatory models cancer-related perceptions mammography adherence screening physicians’ recommendations