Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37118726›Full record

ArticleBMC women's health2023

"I haven't had that information, even though I think I'm really well-informed about most things": a qualitative focus group study on Australian women's understanding and views of potentially modifiable risk factors for breast cancer.

Brooke Nickel, Josephine Armiger, Christobel Saunders, Wendy Vincent, Rachael H Dodd, Anthea Temple, Nalini Bhola, Angela Verde, Nehmat Houssami

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC women's health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
2.5field-weighted citation impact, top 10% of its field
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

7 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Breast cancer prevention in the Western Pacific region.The Lancet regional health. Western Pacific · 2025
    Article
  5. A Hope for Hope: Refocusing Health Promotion on Hopefulness to Reduce Alcohol Consumption and Breast Cancer.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025
    Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
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

9 authors at 6 institutions in 1 country.

Brooke NickelSydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia. brooke.nickel@sydney.edu.au.
Josephine ArmigerSydney Health Literacy Lab, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Christobel SaundersDepartment of Surgery, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Wendy VincentBreastScreen NSW Sydney Local Health District, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Rachael H DoddThe Daffodil Centre, A joint venture between Cancer Council NSW, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Anthea TempleBreastScreen NSW, Cancer Institute NSW, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Nalini BholaBreastScreen NSW, Cancer Institute NSW, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Angela VerdeBreast Cancer Network Australia, Victoria, Australia.
Nehmat HoussamiWiser Healthcare, School of Public Health, The University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia.
Cancer Council NSW · AUCancer Institute of New South Wales · AUUniversity of Sydney · AUBreast Cancer Network Australia · AUSydney Local Health District · AUUniversity of Melbourne · AU

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundBuilding health literacy about potentially modifiable risk factors for breast cancer may help to empower women to make more informed decisions about their breast health; however there has been limited qualitative research on this topic. This study aimed to explore current knowledge, understanding and experience of potentially modifiable risk factors for breast cancer, and views on current and future communication strategies for this information and related interventions.

methodsQualitative study using online focus groups via Zoom in October-November 2022. A diverse sample of women from the Australian community aged 40-74 years were recruited.

resultsFifty-one women from a range of socioeconomic backgrounds took part in nine focus groups. General knowledge of risk factors for breast cancer in the community is limited, particularly in relation to modifiable factors such as alcohol consumption and postmenopausal obesity, with many women describing feelings of 'shock' following this information. Women overwhelming believed that information on modifiable risk factors for breast cancer should be communicated more widely, however communication preferences for receiving this information varied. There was a strong preference amongst the women for a cascade of information which they believed may then help target greater number of women of all ages and backgrounds. Despite worry about long-term compliance, women also supported various lifestyle interventions which may help them and other women to reduce their overall risk.

conclusionsFindings from this study highlight the need for more widespread community communication and education about risk factors for breast, in particular potentially modifiable risk factors such as alcohol consumption and postmenopausal obesity. As breast screening programs in Australia and globally begin to evaluate the potential for risk-related screening this will provide an additional context for primary prevention, hence planning of messaging and piloting of lifestyle-related prevention strategies in breast cancer is needed now. Gaining an understanding of women's preferences for communication and forms of interventions is vital to ensure their engagement.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsAdultAgedAustralasian PeopleAustraliaFemaleFocus GroupsHumansMiddle AgedObesityQualitative ResearchRisk FactorsBreast cancerCommunicationLifestyleQualitativeRisk factors

Identifiers

PMID37118726
PMCPMC10147360
OpenAlexW4367306585

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.