Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38031084›Full record

ArticleBMC public health2023

Common myths and misconceptions about breast cancer causation among Palestinian women: a national cross-sectional study.

Mohamedraed Elshami, Islam Osama Ismail, Mohammed Alser, Ibrahim Al-Slaibi, Roba Jamal Ghithan, Faten Darwish Usrof, Malak Ayman Mousa Qawasmi, Heba Mahmoud Okshiya, Nouran Ramzi Shaban Shurrab, Ibtisam Ismail Mahfouz and 24 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC public health, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–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

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Development and validation of the Breast Cancer Myths Scale for women.Revista da Associacao Medica Brasileira (1992) · 2025
    Article
  5. Article
  6. 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

34 authors.

Mohamedraed Elshami *Division of Surgical Oncology, Department of Surgery, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, 11100 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH, 44106, USA. mohamedraed.elshami@gmail.com.
Islam Osama Ismail *Ministry of Health, Gaza, Palestine.
Mohammed AlserUnited Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Gaza, Palestine.
Ibrahim Al-SlaibiAlmakassed Hospital, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Roba Jamal GhithanFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Faten Darwish UsrofDepartment of a Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza City, Palestine.
Malak Ayman Mousa QawasmiDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Hebron University, Hebron, Palestine.
Heba Mahmoud OkshiyaAl-Shifa Hospital, Gaza, Palestine.
Nouran Ramzi Shaban ShurrabFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Ibtisam Ismail MahfouzFaculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Aseel AbdulQader FannonFaculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Mona Radi Mohammad HawaTulkarem Governmental Hospital, Tulkarem, Palestine.
Narmeen GiacamanFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Manar AhmaroFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Rula Khader ZaatrehCaritas Baby Hospital, Bethlehem, Palestine.
Wafa Aqel AbuKhalilFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Noor Khairi MelhimDepartment of Pharmacy, An-Najah National University, Nablus, Palestine.
Ruba Jamal MadbouhFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Hala Jamal Abu HziemaFaculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Raghad Abed-Allateef LahloohFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Sara Nawaf UbaiatFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Nour Ali JaffalFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Reem Khaled AlawnaFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Salsabeel Naeem AbedFaculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Bessan Nimer Ali AbuzahraFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Aya Jawad Abu KwaikFaculty of Dentistry, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Mays Hafez DodinFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Raghad Othman TahaFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Dina Mohammed AlashqarFaculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Roaa Abd-Al-Fattah MobarakFaculty of Medicine, Al-Quds University, Jerusalem, Palestine.
Tasneem SmeratFaculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Palestine Polytechnic University, Hebron, Palestine.
Shurouq I AlbarqiFaculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Nasser Abu-El-Noor *Faculty of Nursing, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.
Bettina Bottcher *Faculty of Medicine, Islamic University of Gaza, Gaza, Palestine.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe discussion about breast cancer (BC) causation continues to be surrounded by a number of myths and misbeliefs. If efforts are misdirected towards reducing risk from false mythical causes, individuals might be less likely to consider and adopt risk-reducing behaviors for evidence-based BC causes. This national study aimed to assess the awareness of BC causation myths and misbeliefs among Palestinian women, and examine the factors associated with having good awareness.

methodsThis national cross-sectional study recruited adult women from government hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and public spaces in 11 governorates in Palestine. A modified version of the Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale was used to collect data. The level of awareness of BC causation myths was determined based on the number of myths recognized to be incorrect: poor (0-5), fair (6-10), or good (11-15).

resultsA total of 5,257 questionnaires were included. Only 269 participants (5.1%) demonstrated good awareness (i.e., recognizing more than 10 out of 15 BC mythical causes). There were no notable differences in displaying good awareness between the main areas of Palestine, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank and Jerusalem (5.1% vs. 5.1%). Having chronic disease as well as visiting hospitals and primary healthcare centers were associated with a decrease in the likelihood of displaying good awareness. Myths related to food were less frequently recognized as incorrect than food-unrelated myths. 'Eating burnt food' was the most recognized food-related myth (n = 1414, 26.9%), while 'eating food containing additives' was the least recognized (n = 599, 11.4%). 'Having a physical trauma' was the most recognized food-unrelated myth (n = 2795, 53.2%), whereas the least recognized was 'wearing tight bra' (n = 1018, 19.4%).

conclusionsA very small proportion of Palestinian women could recognize 10 or more myths around BC causation. There is a substantial need to include clear information about BC causation in future educational interventions besides focusing on BC screening, signs and symptoms, and risk factors.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsAdultArabsCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHumansMiddle EastSurveys and QuestionnairesBreast cancerCausationCausesHealth educationHealth promotionMisconceptionsMythsPalestine

Identifiers

PMID38031084
PMCPMC10688078

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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.