Author(s)

Kingsley C. Anochiwa¹, Sally Nkechinyere Onyeka Ibe², Eunice Anyalewechi Nwoke², Okwuchi B. Nworuh², Asinobi Oluchi³, Darlington Chidi Amadi¹, Emmanuel Okechukwu Nna⁴

¹Department of Pathology, Federal University Teaching Hospital, Owerri, Nigeria.
²Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria.
³College of Medicine, Imo State University, Owerri, Nigeria.
⁴Safety Molecular Lab, The Molecular Pathology Institute, Enugu, Nigeria.

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women, making it a significant global public health issue. Although developed countries have a higher incidence of breast cancer, developing countries like Nigeria have a low incidence rate but higher rates of morbidity and mortality from the disease. Objective: This study explored how cues to action influenced the use of immunohistochemistry by women in Imo State and how many of them used immunohistochemistry (IHC) to diagnose their condition. Methodology: We used a descriptive study methodology for the investigation, and 121 participants were chosen at random from the 891 total population. The respondents were chosen through a systematic sampling procedure. Structured questionnaire was used as the data collection tool, and the statistical software for social science (SPSS) was used to analyze the data. Results: The mean age of the 121 participants in the study was 45.2 ± 0.7 years. The study found that awareness of IHC services is a significant influencing factor for the uptake and health personnel is the major source of awareness of IHC services. Cues to action particularly from health workers, as well as knowledge of any victim of breast cancer and user of IHC services, also significantly influenced uptake of the IHC services (P < 0.0001). Conclusion: In our study, utilization of IHC services was also impacted by cues to action, particularly from healthcare professionals, as well as awareness of any breast cancer victims and those who used IHC services thus cues to action is a major predicator of immunohistochemistry uptake among women with breast cancer.

Breast, Cancer Uptake, Immunohistochemistry, Cues to Action

Anochiwa, K. , Ibe, S. , Nwoke, E. , Nworuh, O. , Oluchi, A. , Amadi, D. and Nna, E. (2023) Influence of Cues to Action towards Uptake of Immunohistochemistry Services among Women with Breast Cancer Attending Tertiary Health Facilities. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 11, 90-102. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2023.1110009.