Recorded presentation

JC Jackson, MD, MPH, MA¹, Yutaka Yasui, PhD², Nancy J. Burke, PhD³, Hue Thai, ND⁴, DH Lam, BA⁴, and Victoria M. Taylor, MD, MPH². (1) Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359780, 325 Ninth Ave, Seattle, WA 98104, 206-341-4430, Jacksonc@u.washington.edu, (2) Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, PO Box 19024, MP702, 1100 Fairview Avenue N., Seattle, WA 98109-1024, (3) Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, 74 New Montgomery, Suite 200, Box 0981, San Francisco, CA 94143 -0981, (4) Refugee and Immigrant Health Promotion Program, Harborview Medical Center, Box 359959, 325 Ninth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104

Objectives: High rates of cervical cancer and low rates of Pap testing documented among Vietnamese-American women suggest that Vietnamese cultural beliefs may impede cervical cancer screening. This study solicited knowledge, attitudes, and practices of immigrant Vietnamese women in Seattle toward Western and traditional Vietnamese gynecologic health. Methods: We conducted a population-based survey of Vietnamese women in Seattle. Respondents answered questions about a fictitious woman in a simple narrative. We were able to ask about traditional and biomedical recommendations for health care anchored to an evolving scenario. We compared the respondent’s personal practices to their recommended solutions for the story. Results: One hundred and seventy four women responded to the survey (80% response rate) about the case presentation. The overwhelming majority endorsed traditional practices to prevent cervical cancer for the story character (82% “fresh food,” 88% “maintain a pleasant mood”, 98% traditional hygiene). The same women endorsed the idea of cancer screening for the woman (96%), and themselves (90%). Women under 35 years of age and those over 50 responded similarly to questions. Endorsing traditional practices did not predict cervical cancer screening in the past three years. Conclusions: Vietnamese women readily affirm both traditional practices and biomedical screening for gynecologic health. Previous reports of logistical barriers, lack of physician endorsement, and lack of medical information rather than Vietnamese culture may explain lower Pap testing rates.

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize Vietnamese health practices relied upon to prevent cervical cancer.
• Describe attitudes of Vietnamese-American women to traditional health practices and Western medicine.
• Discuss the use of narrative research methods in a survey format.

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.

Recorded presentation