Healthcare Providers' Strategies to Improve Breast Cancer Screening Among South Asian Women in Victoria.

backgroundParticipation in breast cancer screening among culturally diverse women in Australia remains below national targets. Healthcare providers, particularly general practitioners (GPs), play a pivotal role in bridging communication and knowledge gaps and in advocacy, especially for under-screened South Asian (Pakistani and Indian) women.

objectiveTo explore communication and health education strategies used by healthcare providers to encourage breast cancer screening among culturally diverse South Asian women living in Victoria.

methodsA qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with 15 GPs and non-primary healthcare providers in Victoria, Australia. Participants were recruited using purposive and snowball sampling methods, drawing from primary care, specialist networks and peer-to-peer referrals. Reflexive thematic analysis was applied to identify communication strategies and system-level insights.

resultsThree major themes were identified: (1) encouraging health engagement; (2) communication strategies; (3) cultural sensitivity of healthcare providers. Trust-building strategies were important in encouraging health engagement and reducing resistance to screening and misconceptions. Participants reported low levels of health literacy, including limited awareness of BreastScreen Victoria's free service. While interpreters aided communication, they also posed challenges in maintaining efficient consultations. Healthcare providers promoted patient-centred, visual resources to support screening discussions. Cultural sensitivity was emphasised through the use of culturally competent tools and healthcare providers' ongoing cultural training. Existing screening informational resources were considered insufficient to address the cultural preferences of screening South Asian women.

conclusionsStrengthening breast cancer screening for culturally diverse women relies on building trust through culturally competent healthcare providers who can support their patients' engagement with screening through empowering communication, tailored tools and shared decision-making. SO WHAT: Healthcare providers are key enablers of breast cancer screening participation among South Asian women. Investing in culturally competent communication, tailored resources and workforce training could substantially improve screening engagement among South Asian women who remain under-screened despite access to free screening services.