Dataset Information

Factors affecting delay in the presentation of breast cancer symptoms among women in Gaza, occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To identify factors related to women's delay in presenting with breast cancer symptoms to improve diagnosis in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).

Design

Cross-sectional.

Setting

Two government cancer hospitals.

Participants

A consecutive sample of 130 Palestinian women living in Gaza with newly diagnosed breast cancer were approached in the waiting rooms of cancer hospitals in Gaza between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. 120 women took part and returned the completed questionnaire.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Clinical information about breast cancer was collected from hospital cancer records. An interval of 3 months or more between women's self-discovery of symptoms and their first presentation to a medical provider was considered as a delay.

Results

94% (122/130) of women attending cancer hospitals in Gaza agreed to take part in the study. Their mean age was 51 years (range: 23-72), 33.6% (31/122) had a family history of breast cancer and 74.5% (41/55) of those whose cancer stage was known had been diagnosed at stage III or IV. Around one-half (62/122) said they had not recognised the seriousness of their breast changes but only 20% (24/122) of women delayed seeking healthcare by 3 months and more. The two only factors associated to late presentation were that the woman considered their symptoms not serious (p<0.001) and lack of pain (p=0.012). Lower socioeconomic status, older age, lower education and negative family history of breast cancer were not statistically associated with women's delay.

Conclusions

Women's awareness about the seriousness of breast changes and the critical importance of seeking prompt diagnosis needs to be improved using context-relevant and evidence-based awareness campaigns. This should be accompanied with training of female nurses on promoting early detection and improvement in diagnostic facilities to ensure timely diagnosis of cancer in the oPt.

SUBMITTER: Abo Al-Shiekh SS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9594579 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

Factors affecting delay in the presentation of breast cancer symptoms among women in Gaza, occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional survey.

Abo Al-Shiekh Samira S SS Alajerami Yasser S YS Abushab Khaled M KM Najim Ahmed A AA AlWaheidi Shaymaa S Davies Elizabeth A EA

BMJ open 20221021 10

<h4>Objective</h4>To identify factors related to women's delay in presenting with breast cancer symptoms to improve diagnosis in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt).<h4>Design</h4>Cross-sectional.<h4>Setting</h4>Two government cancer hospitals.<h4>Participants</h4>A consecutive sample of 130 Palestinian women living in Gaza with newly diagnosed breast cancer were approached in the waiting rooms of cancer hospitals in Gaza between 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. 120 women took part and ...[more]

PMID: 36270752

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Project description:BackgroundThe Gaza Strip has been embroiled in a violent military assault since October 2023, with an immense toll on the civilian population. Armed conflicts threaten the mental health of affected communities and survivors, and psychiatric morbidity increases with forced displacement and with severe and recurrent trauma. This study investigates the prevalence and predisposing factors of depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD symptoms in a group of young adult students from the Gaza Strip during the war.MethodsA cross-sectional, internet-based survey recruited medical students from the Gaza Strip and used the DASS21, SWLS, and PCL-5 instruments. PTSD diagnosis required having a PCL-5 score ≥ 23 and fulfilling the DSM-5 criteria. Rates of depression, anxiety, stress, and life satisfaction were compared with a previous dataset collected in 2022. Finally, logistic regression models were fitted using R software to identify factors significantly associated with depression, anxiety, stress, and PTSD.ResultsThree hundred thirty-nine medical students participated. Most had been displaced several times, and the great majority had lost a relative, colleague, or friend. Also, a majority had lost their homes and income. 97.05% of participants suffered mild depressive symptoms or higher, while 84.37% and 90.56% reported mild anxiety and mild stress symptoms or higher, respectively. High levels of life dissatisfaction were also found, and 63.40% suffered from PTSD. Symptoms were significantly more prevalent than baseline rates. All participants with PTSD had at least one psychiatric comorbidity. Living in a shelter and having moderate stress symptoms or higher were significantly associated with depression. Being a female, losing a friend, having moderate stress symptoms or higher, and having PTSD predicted having moderate anxiety or higher. Having moderate or higher depression symptoms, moderate or higher anxiety symptoms, and PTSD predicted having moderate stress symptoms or higher. Finally, moderate or higher anxiety and stress symptoms predicted having PTSD.ConclusionThe study detected very high rates of psychiatric disorders among its population of young adult medical students and outlined a myriad of risk factors associated with higher comorbidity. Interventions are needed to prevent a brewing mental health crisis in the Gaza Strip.

Dataset Information

Factors affecting delay in the presentation of breast cancer symptoms among women in Gaza, occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective

Design

Setting

Participants

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Factors affecting delay in the presentation of breast cancer symptoms among women in Gaza, occupied Palestinian territory: a cross-sectional survey.

Similar Datasets

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