The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #51782

Wei-Ti Chen, RN, CNM, DNS, School of Nursing, Columbia University, 1633 Countrywood Court, Walnut Creek, CA 94545, 646-228-4802, wc125@columbia.edu

Studies have found that breast cancer becomes a greater health problem as successive generations of Asian women live in the United States. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationships between acculturation level and breast cancer knowledge, cancer risk perception, health practice, and perceptions of health access. This descriptive correlational cross-sectional study used a survey approach. Participation in this study was limited to Chinese immigrant women, aged 18 and over. A total of 135 Chinese women were recruited. Only "year of education", "marital status", and "household income" showed a significant relationship to breast cancer risk knowledge level. Women with a better knowledge of breast cancer risk are twice as likely to have higher income and have more education. The most knowledgeable women are less likely to be married and less likely to have partners. Five predictors related to behaviors in breast care:"age", "acculturation", "private insurance status", "legal status", and "length of stay in New York". Women who are more acculturated, have private insurance and with legal status are twice as likely to have regular breast care screening behaviors. The odds ratio of regular doing breast care versus no practice is 4.5 for women who stay in for a longer period of time in New York Metropolitan area. The results of this study have the potential to help health care providers to better understand breast cancer-related knowledge and screening behaviors and perceived barriers to health services among Chinese immigrant women in the New York Metropolitan area and to design culturally-appropriate interventions.

Learning Objectives:

• This study will help the health care providers who serve the Chinese population to better understand the level of knowledge of breast cancer screening and perception of cancer and health service access in New York Metropolitan areas.

Keywords: Access Immigration, Breast Cancer

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.