Health Literacy and Breast Cancer Communication

Breast cancer prevention and control efforts serve as priorities in Iran, as breast cancer is, the common leading cause of death women in the country. It seems effective communication can play important role in increasing Breast cancer screening. On the other hand, health literacy is increasing recognized as a critical factor affecting communication across the continuum of breast cancer screening behavior. A goal outlined in healthy people 2020 call for improving health literacy by the use of health communication (1, 2). Health literacy is the capacity to obtain, process, and understand breast cancer information and services needed to make appropriate health care decisions (3).
Women with poor health literacy have a complex set of problems with written and oral communication that may their understanding of breast cancer screening and of symptoms of breast cancer, adversely affecting their stage at early diagnosis (4). In addition, these barriers destroy communication and discussion about the risks and benefits of prevention and treatment options, and women understanding of informed consent for routine procedures and clinical trials, more research is required to identify successful methods for educating and communicating with women who have limited and low health literacy. Individuals with low health literacy may be limited in their ability to access and navigate the breast cancer care system, make appropriate health decisions, and practice on health care information understanding the factors that contribute to miscommunication is important in solving the difficulties included by low health literacy.