סטיגמה כלפי סרטן והקשר לביצוע ממוגרפיה: [מאמר מחקר]

Background: Stigma refers to traits and characteristics that reduce an individual social value, and may lead to shame, social isolation, avoiding treatment, and negativehealth outcomes. Breast cancer (BC), the most common cancer in women, accounts for about a third of invasive cancer cases in women. A mammogram every two yearsfor women aged 50-74 has been shown to reduce mortality. Although mammogram screening has been included in the Israeli health-basket since 1990, there is only a 70% reported adherence to recommendations, and about a third are diagnosed in advanced stages. Most studies exploring adherence to mammography have been based on theHealth Belief Model, however, the association between public stigma towards cancer and mammography has hardly been studied. Aims and Hypotheses: To test the association between stigma towards cancer and undergoing a mammogram. We hypothesized that stigma will be ass ociated withavoiding mammography beyond socio-demographic and clinical charact eristics andbeyond beliefs and barriers towards the screening test. Additionally, positive beliefs towards cancer and mammography will moderate the relationship between stigma and undergoing mammography.Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 182 healthy women aged 50-74.Women were recruited via social networks and completed the following questionnaires: Stigma towards cancer, Beliefs and barriers towards BC and mammography, and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. Results: The regression model showed that positive beliefs about the benefits of mammography and less stigma towards cancer has a significant contribution to mammography. Positive beliefs towards cancer and mammography were found topartially mediate the association between stigma and undergoing mammography. Discussion: This study offers a yet understudied conceptualization i.e., cancer stigma, to examine a possible barrier to undergoing mammography. The findings may lead to the development of health promotion programs that refer to the characteristics, concepts and content related to stigma towards cancer and mammography.