Factors Influencing Missed Appointments for Mammography Screening at Primary Health Care Clinics

Background Breast cancer is the most common cancer among females and is a major health concern in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It is characterized by an early onset and significant contributions to female cancer cases and deaths. Despite its significance, low rates of mammogram participation pose challenges for early detection and effective treatment. This study explored the barriers influencing mammogram attendance among women in the UAE. Methods This cross-sectional study surveyed 461 women referred for mammograms but did not attend appointments across twelve primary healthcare centers in Dubai, UAE. The objective was to identify factors affecting mammography attendance, considering system-related factors, procedure-related factors and factors related to women's emotional and practical behavior. Results Emotional factors such as procedure-related pain, fear, or shyness showed no significant association with mammogram attendance across all age groups (p < 0.001). Conversely, practical constraints, including being too busy, hesitancy to request time off work, and weekday morning unavailability, significantly influenced attendance, particularly among women aged 40–50 years (p < 0.001). Age did not significantly impact appointment-related issues like forgetfulness, challenges in rescheduling, or the absence of reminders (p = 0.5). In addition, location preference for mammogram screenings was not influenced by age (p = 0.017). Conclusion Based on the findings, emotional factors were not key determinants for missing mammogram appointments in the included sample. Instead, practical issues, notably work commitments, significantly affect attendance, particularly among women aged 40–50. Accordingly, recommendations include offering extended hours, introducing a dedicated mammogram off day, emphasizing practical issues in awareness campaigns to working women, implementing virtual pre-screening consultations before appointments, providing information in multiple languages to cover the diversity of the population in Dubai, and leveraging AI tracking to minimize no-shows, especially for women aged 40–50 years. These measures would enhance mammogram attendance, facilitating breast cancer detection earlier and improving treatment outcomes in affected population.