Simona Kwon, MPH¹, Karolynn Siegel, PhD², and Ruby Senie, PhD¹. (1) AANCART, Columbia University, 722 W. 168th St., 7th Fl., Room 732, Dept. of Epidemiology, New York City, NY 10032, 212-305-9079, sck32@columbia.edu, (2) Sociomedical Sciences/ Center for the Psychosocial Study of Health and Illness, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, 100 Haven Avenue, Suite 6A, New York, NY 10032

Background: Research has shown that individuals create personal lay representations of an illness in order to make sense of and respond to an illness. Leventhal et al propose that these illness representations (IR)—which are influenced by cultural beliefs, social communications, and personal experiences—determine how an individual understands, responds and copes with an illness. As IRs work to influence the actions people take (or do not take) with regard to an illness, eliciting an individual’s IR may help researchers understand adherence or non-adherence to health practices. Purpose: Despite the growing population of Korean Americans (KA) and the doubling in incidence rate of breast cancer after a decade of residence in the U.S., there are no published data on the meaning and social significance of breast cancer to KA women. The study objective is to elicit the IRs of breast cancer among KA women living in NYC, and to understand how these IRs inform breast screening behavior. Methods: A modified version of Weinman’s Illness Perception Questionnaire—based on Leventhal’s model of IR—was administered with assistance as needed to a convenience sample of 150 KA women > 18 years who attended community health fairs, cultural events, religious institutions, and senior centers. Conclusion: Preliminary analysis suggests that individuals with a negative view of the IR of breast cancer are less likely to engage in screening behavior. Creating interventions and health education to address how breast cancer is conceptualized and to target held misconceptions on the illness may increase screening practices.

Learning Objectives:

• 1. Define the components of the illness representation model.
• 2. Describe the study population’s illness representation model of breast cancer
• 3. Apply the findings of the study population’s illness representation model of breast cancer to understand their breast cancer prevention behavior.

Keywords: Breast Cancer, Asian Americans

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.