Mar Estupiñán Fdez. de Mesa
About
My research project
Exploring inequities in breast cancer outcomes across the care pathway through the lens of intersectionality: A transformative mixed methods studyTo integrate the narratives of women with breast cancer (qualitative) with survey data (quantitative) to understand what factors drive inequities across the care pathway (mixed methods). To use these findings to identify measures to improve breast cancer services and reduce inequities (transformative).
Supervisors
To integrate the narratives of women with breast cancer (qualitative) with survey data (quantitative) to understand what factors drive inequities across the care pathway (mixed methods). To use these findings to identify measures to improve breast cancer services and reduce inequities (transformative).
Affiliations and memberships
Publications
Background Exploring the role of structural power in relation to an individual's location in society can yield novel insights into cancer inequities. We aimed to understand how minority ethnic women's identities (age, gender, ethnicity, social position) intersected with social networks and healthcare services to influence their experiences of breast cancer care. Methods Semi-structured interviews with 20 women aged 31–60 years with a breast cancer diagnosis identifying as: Asian (n = 7), Black (n = 9), and of mixed ethnicity (n = 4) about their breast cancer journey. Data were analysed using Framework Analysis. Results We developed four themes; feeling stereotyped by (a) healthcare professionals (HCPs) and (b) social networks; influence of HCPs' knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours; perceived barriers in healthcare services; and influence of cultural beliefs. We provided a visual representation to illustrate the multifaceted factors that explain pathways to breast cancer inequities for these groups. Conclusion Our findings underscored that minority ethnic women negotiated complex processes that influence their coping responses, access to services, and management of their disease. Our study exposed institutional deficiencies that systematically disadvantage minority ethnic women. These findings suggest that policymakers and clinicians should reformulate policies and cancer services to ensure all women with breast cancer receive equal and optimal care.