Asian American subgroup differences in sources of health information and predictors of screening behavior

This study examined Asian subgroup differences in sources of health information and cancer screening, comparison of Asians and Whites in screening, and the association between health information and screening behavior. A nationally representative sample of 579 Asian adults in the US, including those who speak, Chinese, Vietnamese and Korean was selected. Questionnaire items developed by the Commonwealth Fund included demographic variables, health status, cancer screening, health care experiences, health information sources, and use of an interpreter in the patient-provider interaction. There were differences between subgroups in source of health information. Indians from India were more likely to use the World Wide Web than Chinese, Koreans, and Filipinos. There were differences in ease of reading or understanding instructions on the prescription bottle, information booklets provided by physicians, and in difficulty speaking with a physician. There were differences in getting a general physical and a pap test between Asian ethnic subgroups and between Asians and Whites. Certain sources of health information were positively correlated with specific screening tests. Development of particular sources of health information relevant to specific Asian subgroups and for specific screening tests may enhance their decision making prior to and in conjunction with receiving medical care services.