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Health beliefs mediate the effects of a cervical cancer screening intervention on uptake of the Pap smear among Vietnamese American women
Objective: The effects of a psychoeducational intervention, based on the Health Belief Model (HBM), on Vietnamese American women’s cervical cancer screening behavior were evaluated. The objective of the present study was to identify potential HBM factors that may mediate the effects of the intervention on women’s uptake of screening.
Methods: In a community-based, randomized controlled intervention study, participants (n=1,365) were recruited from 30 Vietnamese community organizations. The intervention addressed women’s knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer, health beliefs about cervical cancer and screening (perceived risk, perceived severity of cervical cancer, perceived benefits of and barriers to screening), and self-efficacy in obtaining screening. Screening behavior was assessed 12-months post-intervention.
Results: Screening rates were significantly higher in the intervention compared to the control group. The intervention group reported significant increases in perceived severity, benefits, knowledge, and self-efficacy; and decreases in perceived barriers from pre- to post-program. Perceived severity contributed 12% of the total intervention effect on behavior, and decreases in barriers contributed 10% of the total intervention effect. Finally, knowledge contributed about 16% of the total intervention effect. Thus, the intervention positively influenced screening behavior by increasing knowledge and perceived severity and reducing perceived barriers.
Conclusion: Future interventions to enhance screening behavior in this population should address women’s knowledge and severity beliefs, while reducing barriers to screening.
Learning Areas:
Diversity and culturePlanning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Learning Objectives:
Identify key factors that mediate the effects of a psychoeducational intervention on cervical cancer screening behavior.
Describe how future intervention programs can be designed to enhance screening outcomes.
Keyword(s): Cancer Prevention and Screening, Asian Americans
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal or co-principal of multiple federally funded grants focusing on Behavioral Health Intervention Trials, Health Disparities/Transcultural Health Care (Asian Americans and Ethnic Minority Populations,)Cancer Prevention and Intervention for over the past decade. I have received over 55 grant awards from various sources, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), to conduct research in my expertise areas.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.