Evidence map›Paper›PMID 33167930›Full record

ArticleBMC cancer2020

Presentation of breast cancer, help seeking behaviour and experience of patients in their cancer journey in Singapore: a qualitative study.

Celene W Q Ng, Jennifer N W Lim, Jenny Liu, Mikael Hartman

Abstract read
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In one paragraph

Article in BMC cancer, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 17 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
17citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

17 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Celene W Q NgDepartment of Surgery, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ride Road, Tower Block, University Surgical Cluster, Level 8, Singapore City, 119228, Singapore.
Jennifer N W LimInstiture of Health, Faculty of Education, Health, and Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Wulfruna Street, WV1 1LY, Wolverhampton, UK. limjnw@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7696-949X
Jenny LiuSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Block MD6, 16 Medical Drive, Singapore City, 117597, Singapore.
Mikael HartmanDepartment of Surgery, National University Health System, 1E Kent Ride Road, Tower Block, University Surgical Cluster, Level 8, Singapore City, 119228, Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundLittle is known about the presentation, help seeking behaviour for breast cancer in Singapore. Nor was there a study exploring the experience of patients in their breast cancer journey.

methodsA qualitative interview study with thematic analysis, conducted with 36 patients.

resultsThere is no clear pattern of presentation for breast cancer by cancer stage at diagnosis, age and ethnicity in the cancer journey of this group of patients. Patients were diagnosed with early to advanced stages cancer regardless of when they presented or took up treatment in their cancer journey. The reasons patients sought medical attention also did not appear to differ between the stages of cancer diagnosed, ethnic and age. Without setting a measure to define early and late presentation, we found that women shared similar experience in their breast cancer journey, regardless of age, ethnicity and stage of cancer at diagnosis. Poor knowledge of breast cancer (symptoms and causes); few practised regular BSE; denial of symptom; fear of hospitalisation, diagnosis and treatment; worries and stress over financial burden of treatment; misinformation in magazine and online sources; diet; stress; caring responsibility; support network; and use of alternative medicine before and after diagnosis were identified in patients' narratives. Strong social support; fear of being an emotional and financial burden for the family; and financial worries during treatment were also the recurring themes after diagnosis.

conclusionA measure of breast cancer presentation - that accounts for the patient's experience in the cancer journey, the time interval and tumour biology - that is meaningful to patients, clinicians and researchers is needed. For research on late and delayed presentation, details on BSE practice - how often, when and was it done correctly - will improve the accuracy of time delay interval. For the public, concerted efforts to improve knowledge of breast cancer, survival and prognosis for early-diagnosed cancer, and the importance of regular and correct technique to perform BSE, are critical and urgent to address the rising breast cancer incidence in the country.

Indexed as

Health Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHelp-Seeking BehaviorAdultAgedAged, 80 and overBreast NeoplasmsDelayed DiagnosisEarly Detection of CancerFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMiddle AgedPatient Acceptance of Health CarePrognosisQualitative ResearchSingaporeCancer journeyExperienceHelp seeking behaviourPresentation of breast cancerQualitative studySingapore

Identifiers

PMID33167930
PMCPMC7653763

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.