DISCUSSION
In this study, we explored the perspectives of 187
low-income and primarily minority women recruited
in four C/MHCs, regarding factors that encouraged or
hindered them from participating in cancer screening
behaviors. Our findings suggest a taxonomy of barriers
and facilitators of cancer screening in this underserved
population. Barriers were grouped into three
major categories of perceptions of cancer screening
behaviors: patients' attitudes and beliefs, social network
experience and accessibility of services.
Patients' attitudes and beliefs played a dual role
either as a facilitator or a barrier to cancer screening
in this population. Patients provided several explana