Factors Influencing Mammography Screening among Thai American Women

In order to validate and further explore factors influencing mammography screening derived from a series of focus groups with Thai women in Southern California, telephone interviews were conducted with Thai women in four Southern California counties. Interviewees completed a survey instrument that focused on knowledge about breast cancer as experienced by Thai women and the need for breast cancer screening. The relative importance of factors motivating and impeding breast cancer screening, and perceived causes of cancer prevalent in the this ethnic population were also explored. Interviews were conducted by Thai-speaking nurses with women over 40 years of age who self-identified as Thai. A convenience sample of women was recruited from agencies serving the Thai community and cluster sampling was used to obtain the target number of participants. Participants were asked to rate the relative importance of factors in promoting or impeding breast cancer screening as well as their intentions to obtain or not obtain a mammogram in the following year. Findings will lay the foundation for interventions to promote mammography screening in this ethnic population.