Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40819869›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2025

Perceived barriers to timely diagnosis among Iranian women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer: a qualitative study.

Maryam Janatolmakan, Marziyeh Lashkari, Rebecca Lehto, Reza Negarandeh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing 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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. 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

4 authors.

Maryam JanatolmakanNursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (the Islamic Republic of).
Marziyeh LashkariRadiation Oncology Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (the Islamic Republic of).
Rebecca LehtoCollege of Nursing, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA lehtor@msu.edu.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5091-8408
Reza NegarandehNursing and Midwifery Care Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran (the Islamic Republic of).ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7597-5094

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND

objectiveTimely diagnosis of breast cancer plays a vital role in improving treatment outcomes and increasing patient survival. However, contextual factors such as cultural beliefs, healthcare system structural limitations, and socioeconomic challenges can contribute to diagnostic delays. The qualitative study explores the barriers to timely diagnosis from the perspectives of Iranian women diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. DESIGN AND

settingA qualitative study was conducted using in-depth, semistructured interviews to explore perceived barriers to timely diagnosis among Iranian women with advanced breast cancer. Data analysis were performed using MAXQDA software, V.20.

participants15 Iranian women [mean age 50.6±9.4 (range 38-72)] years with breast cancer diagnosed at an advanced stage.

resultsSeven participants reported diagnostic delays that exceeded 7 months. Key factors contributing to perceived delays included poorly managed appointments and medical care, care not meeting patient expectations, deceptive marketing practices, cost of diagnostic procedures, lack of knowledge, fears, transcendent beliefs, competing priorities, insufficient support and diagnostic errors.

conclusionsUnderstanding perceived barriers to timely diagnosis in women with advanced breast cancer is key to creating effective strategies that reduce preventable negative outcomes. Study findings have implications for patient education, healthcare quality, and enhancement of communication between providers and patients for delayed diagnosis prevention in respective treatment settings.

Indexed as

Breast NeoplasmsDelayed DiagnosisHealth Knowledge, Attitudes, PracticeHealth Services AccessibilityAdultAgedFemaleHumansInterviews as TopicIranMiddle AgedQualitative ResearchBreast tumoursPatient ParticipationQUALITATIVE RESEARCH

Identifiers

PMID40819869
PMCPMC12359483

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
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.