177407 An evaluation of recruitment and retention strategies among Asian American women in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program

Monday, October 27, 2008

Christina Misa Wong, PhD , Behavioral and Biomedical Research, Family Health International, Research Triangle Park, NC
Laura Linnan, ScD , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Don Compton, PhD , Office on Smoking and Health, CDC, Atlanta, GA
Phyllis W. Rochester, PhD , NCCDPHP, Cardiovascular Health Branch, CDC, Chamblee, GA
Allan Steckler, DrPH , Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Bryan Weiner, PhD , Department of Health Policy and Administration, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Background: Asian American women have the lowest mammography and Pap test rates among all other racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. The elimination of these health disparities among Asian American women is currently a national priority and strategies to increase screening are urgently needed.

Purpose: The purpose of this evaluation study was to assess current strategies and to provide recommendations for improving recruitment, retention and delivery of services to Asian American women in the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP), a free screening program for eligible low-income women. A cultural competency conceptual framework formed the basis of this investigation.

Methods: The study was conducted in three phases: 1) Written surveys completed by 41 NBCCEDP state program directors; 2) Telephone interviews conducted with 28 key NBCCEDP program administrators and service providers; and 3) Site visits in three states with the highest Asian American population, and interviews with 62 Asian American women.

Results: Results revealed that 11 cultural competency strategies are recommended for use by program directors, outreach coordinators, service providers and Asian American women when recruiting, retaining, and providing services to Asian American women. Each of these recommended cultural competency strategies will be discussed.

Conclusions: Health care organizations that participate in the NBCCEDP have found many different ways of implementing cultural competency strategies to increase access to screening in this population. As some organizations are far ahead of others in creating a more culturally competent system, there is a necessity to provide avenues for sharing and learning.

Learning Objectives:
1) Recognize the need for creating a more culturally competent health care system in order to address health disparities among Asian American women in breast and cervical cancer screening. 2) Describe the cultural competency strategies recommended to increase recruitment and retention of Asian American women in breast and cervical cancer screening. 3) Apply the cultural competency strategies discussed in this session to develop cultural competency strategies for their healthcare organization in increasing access to breast and cervical cancer screening for Asian American women.

Keywords: Asian Women, Cancer Screening

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the primary person who developed the research proposal, conducted data collection activities, analyzed the data and wrote up the process and the findings.
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.

See more of: Cancer Prevention & Control among Asians & Pacific Islanders
See more of: Asian Pacific Islander Caucus of APHA