Learning Objective #1: Describe one mixed method approach for exploring women's past experiences across the life span related to their breasts and current mammography screening behaviors

Learning Objective #2: Discuss the use of established qualitative methods as a means of gaining a better understanding of ethnic minority women's health promotion behaviors

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Deaths attributed to breast cancer will occur disproportionately among women from ethnic minority groups. Despite campaigns for early breast cancer detection for all women, recommended screening guidelines are often not followed. Numerous studies have focused on identifying barriers to breast cancer screening and on the mammography screening behaviors of ethnic minority women, yet little is known about the impact of past experiences on women's current health promotion behaviors. Despite a recent decline in breast cancer mortality, there has not been a significant change in breast cancer mortality rates among women from ethnic minority groups. The purpose of this study is to explore women's experiences across the life span pertaining to their breasts in relation to their current mammography screening behaviors. Preliminary data identified by the investigator strongly suggest women's experiences pertaining to their breasts and associated gender issues have an impact on women's current breast cancer screening behaviors. The investigator found that perceptions formed during puberty often leave women with feelings of shame regarding their breasts, which can have a lasting effect on women's current mammography screening behaviors. A qualitative approach using multiple methods of data collection: participant narratives, individual interviews, and focus group interviews will be used to explore low to middle income White, African American, Hispanic, and American Indian women's experiences across the life span pertaining to their breasts and their current mammography screening behaviors. As a result of this study, new insight in the area of women's breast experiences across the life span will help nurses and other health care professionals to gain new perspectives about possible obscured influences that impact a woman's decision to participate in breast cancer screening, increase our understanding of barriers to mammography screening that have not been identified in other studies, and provide new insights for developing culturally relevant mammography screening interventions.