Exploring breast health disparities among women with disabilities

Breast health disparities among women with disabilities remain a significant problem due to multiple factors. The lack of accessible facilities primarily contributes to these breast health disparities experienced by women with disabilities. However, lack of knowledge among breast service providers and women with disabilities also contributes to this problematic issue. Breast heath professionals are frequently unaware about accessibility and ways of accommodating the needs of women with disabilities. Women with disabilities themselves are often unaware of the importance of breast health screening and how to modify breast health techniques such as breast self-exams. While information related to these issues is being increasingly reported in the literature, these types of dissemination efforts do not necessarily reach consumers and professionals practicing in the community. Therefore, the majority of women with disabilities and community-based breast health professionals are frequently excluded from information that may impact them positively. As part of a study funded by the Susan G. Komen For the Cure, a survey of the literature was conducted to determine and summarize the nature of the information (e.g. theoretical versus research studies, studies that focus upon general versus specific types of disability). Findings have been compiled in user-friendly formats so that they can be distributed in the community to both consumers and professionals. This presentation will describe the literature review process and findings as well as the alternative dissemination actions taken by the investigator.