Purpose/Objectives: To assess levels of fatalistic beliefs and their association with mammography use in four population groups in Israel.Design: Telephone survey.Setting: Maccabi Healthcare Services in Israel.Sample: A random sample of 1,550 Arabic and Jewish women.Methods: A random telephone survey was performed during May and June 2007. Women's fatalistic beliefs were measured. Information from claims records regarding mammography use was obtained for each woman.Main Research Variables: Levels of fatalistic beliefs and mammography use.Findings: Fatalistic beliefs included general beliefs that God or fate (external force) was the cause of cancer and related to cancer survivorship. The higher-educated women reported less fatalistic beliefs. Arab women reported more fatalistic beliefs compared to the other women. Mammography use was associated with fatalistic beliefs that external forces were the cause of cancer among Arab and immigrant women but not among veteran Jewish and ultraorthodox women. Fatalistic beliefs about cancer survivorship were not associated with mammography in any of the population groups. Levels of fatalism and education may explain the difference in rates of mammography among Arab and Jewish women.Conclusions: High levels of fatalism may inhibit women from having a mammogram, particularly Arab and immigrant women in Israel. However, this is not a generalizable result for all population groups and all types of fatalism.Implications for Nursing: Interventions to decrease fatalism in Arabs and immigrants may increase compliance with mammography. Nurses may achieve this by developing tailored messages for women who believe that external forces are the cause of cancer.
BackgroundIn the past mammography-use has been reported to be low in Israel compared to other western countries. The objectives of this study were (1) to assess the increase in mammography-use during the years 2002 to 2007 in four population groups in Maccabi Healthcare Services (MHS), Israel: non-immigrant non-ultraorthodox, ultraorthodox, and immigrant Jewish women and Arab women; (2) to assess ethnic and socioeconomic disparities in mammography-use.MethodsA random telephone survey of 1,550 women receiving healthcare services from MHS was performed during May-June 2007. Information from MHS claims-records database regarding mammography-use was obtained for each woman for the period 2002 to 2007. Since mammography-use serves as a quality assurance measure for primary care, MHS sent mail and telephone invitations for mammography to all women since the end of 2004.ResultsAt the beginning of the follow-up period (2002) mammography-use among Jewish non-immigrant non-ultraorthodox and ultraorthodox women was higher than among Arab and Jewish immigrant women. During the 5 year follow-up these disparities decreased significantly. In 2007, mammography-use by Arab women was only slightly lower compared to all groups of Jewish women. In 2007, after adjustment for socioeconomic factors there was only a borderline significant difference between Jewish and Arab women. The socioeconomic variables were not associated with mammography-use in 2002 and 2007 in any of the groups except for marital status in immigrant women in 2002.ConclusionThe interventions implemented by MHS may have increased mammography-use in all population groups, decreasing disparities between the groups, however the differences between Jewish and Arab women have not been completely eliminated and indicate a need for further targeted interventions. No significant socioeconomic disparities in mammography-use were observed.
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