Breast cancer screening is crucial for early detection and improved survival, yet uptake remains suboptimal due to multifaceted barriers. This review comprehensively examines the barriers and facilitators influencing screening across diverse populations, with an emphasis on integrating multimodal communication strategies with sociocultural considerations. Through synthesis of existing literature, key sociodemographic, psychosocial, and healthcare system barriers—including fear, stigma, socioeconomic disparities, and limited provider engagement—were identified. Facilitators such as culturally competent communication, social support networks, and digital platforms effectively enhance screening behaviors. Interventions that employ digital media, community health workers, and provider training have demonstrated positive outcomes in screening uptake and patient empowerment. Despite progress, challenges persist regarding misinformation, digital literacy, and health inequities. The findings underscore the necessity of culturally tailored, multimodal interventions combined with systemic healthcare improvements to optimize breast cancer screening adherence. Future research should prioritize rigorous evaluation of communication strategies and innovative technologies to address persistent gaps and foster equitable access.
Zain et al. (Thu,) studied this question.