African American women are more likely to die of breast cancer than are women of any other racial or ethnic group. Deaths from breast cancer in white women have decreased due to greater use of breast cancer screening. However deaths due to breast cancer continue to increase in African American women in part because the cancer is diagnosed at later stages. An effective way to address this disparity in breast cancer mortality is to determine potential motivational factors/constructs that drive African American women to seek screening. A review of the published literature revealed five such factors in urban African American women: collectivism, spirituality, racial pride, future- and present-time orientation. Using data from a National Cancer Institute-funded project we have explored the association between these constructs and breast cancer screening knowledge, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior. Preliminary results from analyses of variance with data from 1165 urban African American women reveal statistically significant associations between mean scores on the cultural construct scales and all but two of the breast cancer screening beliefs and behavior examined. Analyses also reveal practically significant associations between mean scores on the present time orientation scale and beliefs about, and barriers to getting mammograms, beliefs about breast cancer and about its treatment. This information can be used by health researchers and practitioners to enhance the relevance and persuasiveness of health communication materials by, for example, creating five versions of a particular brochure: one each for women who score high on the short scales used to measure these constructs.
Learning Objectives: Those who attend this session will be able to: 1. List five cultural factors that are prevalent in African American women. 2. Describe associations between these cultural factors and breast cancer screening. 3. Explain how these associations can be used to promote breast cancer screening in African American women.
Keywords: Cancer Screening, Cultural Competency
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.