240548 Health Belief Model and the impact on Cervical Cancer Screening Among Vietnamese Americans

Sunday, October 30, 2011

Grace X. Ma, PhD , Department of Public Health, Center for Asian Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Carolyn Y. Fang, PhD , Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Ziding Feng, PhD , Biostatistics Program, Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Wanzhen Gao, PhD , Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Yin Tan, MD , Center for Asian Health, Department of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Joseph An Nguyen , Asian Community Health Coalition, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Vietnamese American women represent the ethnic subgroup at greatest risk for cervical cancer. The underutilization of cervical cancer screening and the vulnerability of Vietnamese women to cervical cancer are compounded by their health beliefs.

Objective: The objective of this study was to explore the associations between factors of the Health Belief Model and cervical cancer screening among Vietnamese Americans.

Methods: Vietnamese women (n=1,450) were recruited into the study from 30 Vietnamese community-based organizations located in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Participants completed assessments of demographic and acculturation variables, health care access factors, constructs of health belief model, as well as health behaviors in either English or Vietnamese language.

Results: The ever cervical cancer screening rate was 53% (769/1450) among the Vietnamese participants. The significant associated factors from HBM are: believing at risk to get cervical cancer, believing more likely than average women to get the cancer, having cervical cancer changes life, A pap test is important for staying healthy, do not understand the test, a test won't prevent getting cancer, partner uncomfortable with a test by a male doctor, a pap test is embarrassing, unavailable to see doctors, uncomfortable to a test with a stranger, do not know where to go, and being confident in getting a test. Conclusion: Understanding the factors from HBM that are associated with cervical cancer screening will help us identify those Vietnamese women who are most at-risk for cervical cancer and would benefit from intervention programs that increase their screening rates.

Learning Areas:
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Public health or related research

Learning Objectives:
1. By the end of the session, participants will be able to identify contributing factors from health belief model to cervical cancer screening among Vietnamese American women. 2. By the end of the session, participants will be able to apply the results of this study to the development of culturally appropriate intervention strategies to increase cervical cancer screening rates among Vietnamese women and other Asian Americans.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am the Principal Investigator of the study to be presented.
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.

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