Final Assignment

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 1

Mammography Detection and Prevention of Breast Cancer

Nikita Chapman

Liberty University

Author Note

Nikita Chapman

I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.

Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to

Nikita Chapman. Email: [email protected]

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 2

Mammography Detection and Prevention of Breast Cancer

Several recommendations have been proposed for breast cancer screening and

intervention, including breast awareness, self-breast examination, clinical breast examinations,

and mammography, to mention a few. These techniques are meant to offer early detection of

breast cancer, especially in its early forms in women before cancer spreads (Black et al., 2019).

Early detection of breast cancer has been praised for reducing breast cancer mortalities in

women. According to experts, mammography remains the most effective screening tool for

breast cancer in women.

Mammography has led to a reduction of breast cancer mortalities by approximately

40%. However, 30% of women are still considered to fail in undertaking recommendations for

timely mammography screening (Alizada et al., 2021). Mammography screening has increased

from approximately 29% to 70% among women, which is remarkable. However, the rate has

remained unchanged for several years due to challenges, such as barriers and disparities in

mammogram adherence.

Mammography as a screening too; for breast cancer among women is complex and

multifactorial. Several factors are associated with mammography screening adherence among

women, including socioeconomic disparities such as income level, education, insurance,

geographical settings and location, health beliefs in communities, and health literacy (Black et

al., 2019). Women with higher levels of education are associated with higher incomes and better

insurance plans. They are also linked with increased health literacy and thus are likely to have

better adherence to mammography breast cancer screening; this leads to subsequent early

detection and less likelihood of breast cancer mortalities. High-income levels and insurance have

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 3

been attached to improved adherence in mammography screening among white women, but

these factors are not positively reflected in black women's adherence to mammography breast

screening (Alizada et al., 2021). However, several other factors, such as perceived discrimination

and distrust in the health sectors, are associated with the negative adherence patterns in black

women.

Purpose of the Study and Research Question

Adherence to mammography breast screening among women has indicated fluctuations.

Mammography has remained at the same rate for several decades; it is alarming. More breast

awareness programs are conducted to educate women on the importance of screening and early

detection of breast cancer. The study will identify women among the communities who are not

receiving timely mammography breast screening. It will explore past and current efforts to

improve breast screening among women. Its results will be used in developing a better plan to

improve adherence to mammography breast screening among women; it is an essential and

crucial health measure. Therefore, the research question for this study is;

Q1. Do counseling and addressing personal barriers improve mammography adherence among

women above 40 years?

The critical variables in the research question and population are;

1. Counseling and addressing personal barriers is the independent variable.

2. Mammography adherence is the dependent variable.

3. The population of interest in the study is women above 40 years

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 4

Significance and Contribution to Nursing Research

Most estimates reveal that breast cancer treatment is reducing among women globally,

with averages indicating approximately 72.8% globally. Most regions in the United States have

recorded rates below the global goal of approximately 81.1% (Jiwa et al., 2021). The stats place

most of the regions in the United States in a higher need for initiatives to improve early detection

and prevention methods. Therefore, this research is significant for nursing research because it

will provide insights and understanding for better methods in improving adherence levels in

mammography in breast cancer screening, which will provide a benchmark in healthcare for

improving high-quality care.

Research Methodology and Design

The study shall utilize a qualitative non-experimental methodology and incorporate

several research designs, such as quality improvement, healthcare delivery innovations, and

policy evaluations. The qualitative methodology will effectively describe and answer a broad

range of questions illustrated in this research proposal, and it is also considered adequate for

studies involving several concepts and frameworks (Kang, 2018, p. 661). This study will be

focused on improving adherence to mammography breast screening for women in the United

States. Outcome measurement is an essential aspect of the quality improvement process. For this

project, the outcome measurement shall include determining the number of women undertaking

non-adherence who are scheduled for a mammogram after counseling and addressing personal

barriers. Specific data shall be collected regarding the quality of elements responsible for driving

improvements, especially with selected primary healthcare sites (Klarenbach et al., 2018). An

analysis shall be conducted for post and pre-intervention mammography rates to indicate the

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 5

effectiveness of interventions, such as counseling and addressing personal barriers, in the

changes for improved adherence in mammography breast cancer screening.

Conceptual Framework; Model for Improvement

A conceptual framework is essential in plotting a map connecting all the essential

aspects of the study. The conceptual framework shall use the model for improvement because it

is the most appropriate for quality improvement, especially in the healthcare realm (O'Donovan

et al., 2020). This improvement model shall be based on three essential questions for healthcare

organizations because it will help the organizations set aims, establish measures, and select

appropriate changes. Once the changes are approved, the following step shall involve testing,

following the PDSA criteria. This illustrates planning for the changes, doing what is represented

by the implementing plan, studying and evaluating the represented results, and acting upon the

results.

The cyclical nature of the PSDA is essential for the development of the model of

improvement, and this is because the repeated cycles will be refined for optimum results. The

process can be initiated on a small scale and implemented on a large scale after realizing

effective results (O'Donovan et al., 2020). The model will be effective in answering three

questions for the study.

1. What shall the study accomplish? This question shall effectively answer the purpose and

aim of the study, which involves improving mammography adherence among women

with non-adherence practices in communities.

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 6

2. How will the improvements be measured? It will effectively refer to outcome

measurements; this shall be guided by the model for improvement that illustrates that all

improvements require changes.

3. What changes shall be made for improvement? This question shall be essential in

focusing on changes that will be effective for improvements. It explains the changes that

will lead to improved adherence to mammography breast screening among women.

Conclusion

Several recommendations have been proposed for breast cancer screening and

intervention, including breast awareness, self-breast examination, clinical breast examinations,

and mammography, to mention a few. These techniques are meant to offer early detection of

breast cancer, especially in its early forms in women before cancer spreads. The study will

identify women among the communities who are not receiving timely mammography breast

screening. It will explore past and current efforts to improve breast screening among women. Its

results will be used in developing a better plan to improve adherence to mammography breast

screening among women. The study shall utilize a qualitative non-experimental methodology

and incorporate several research designs, such as quality improvement, healthcare delivery

innovations, and policy evaluations. The qualitative methodology will effectively describe and

answer a broad range of questions illustrated in this research proposal.

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 7

References

Alizada, F., Lachyan, A. S., & Simon, N. H. (2021). A literature review assessing knowledge,

attitude, and preventive practices towards breast cancer among Indian women.

http://dx.doi.org/10.24327/ijrsr.2021.1204.5901

Black, E., & Richmond, R. (2019). Improving early detection of breast cancer in sub-Saharan

Africa: why mammography may not be the way forward. Globalization and Health,

15(1), 3-3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12992-018-0446-6

Jiwa, N., Takats, Z., Leff, D. R., & Sutton, C. (2021). Breast health screening: a UK-wide

questionnaire. BMJ Nutrition, Prevention & Health, bmjnph-2021.

https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjnph-2021-000266

Kang. (2018). Use of Breast Cancer Screening and Its Association with Later Use of Preventive

Services among Medicare Beneficiaries. Radiology., 288(3), 660–668.

https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2018172326

Klarenbach, S., Sims-Jones, N., Lewin, G., Singh, H., Thériault, G., Tonelli, M., Doull, M.,

Courage, S., Garcia, A. J., Thombs, B. D., & Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health

Care (2018). Recommendations on screening for breast cancer in women aged 40-74

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O'Donovan, J., Newcomb, A., MacRae, M. C., Vieira, D., Onyilofor, C., & Ginsburg, O. (2020).

Community health workers and early detection of breast cancer in low-income and

MAMMOGRAPHY DETECTION AND PREVENTION OF BREAST CANCER 8

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