141st APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Recorded Annual Meeting Presentations (RAMP) are now available for purchase.
Only $90 for presenters, $140 for registered attendees and $200 for non-attendees.

Online Program

278840
Effects of a church-based intervention on Korean American women's health beliefs and intentions to undergo cervical cancer screening


Sunday, November 3, 2013

Carolyn Y. Fang, PhD, Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA
Grace X. Ma, PhD, Department of Public Health, Temple University, Center for Asian Health, Philadelphia, PA
Joanne Rhee, MSW, Center for Asian Health, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Yin Tan, MPH, MD, Department of Public Health, Temple University, Center for Asian Health, Philadelphia, PA
Ziding Feng, PhD, Biostatistics Program, Cancer Prevention Research Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA
Charles Kim, Asian Community Health Coalition, Philadelphia, PA
Background: Despite the survival benefits associated with cervical cancer screening, utilization of the Pap test among Korean American women remains relatively low. Guided by the Health Belief Model, we implemented a church-based program to address beliefs regarding the benefits of screening and to reduce screening barriers.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether the church-based program resulted in changes in women's beliefs and screening intentions.

Methods: Korean American women (N= 498) who were non-adherent to screening guidelines were randomly assigned to the intervention program or an attention control condition. The intervention group received education designed to increase knowledge and address psychosocial beliefs and barriers to screening. The control group received general health education including information about cervical cancer screening. Participants completed measures of health beliefs at baseline and post-intervention. Participants also completed an item assessing intention to undergo screening in the next 12 months.

Results: The intervention group reported greater perceived benefits of screening (p=0.01), fewer barriers (p=0.01), and greater confidence regarding their ability to obtain screening (p<0.001) at post-intervention compared to the control group. Importantly, a greater proportion of intervention participants (74.8%) reported that they intended to obtain a Pap test over the next 12 months compared to control participants (43.0%), χ2(1)=48.5, p < 0.001.

Conclusion: A culturally-adapted psychoeducational intervention yielded more positive attitudes, reduced perceived barriers, and increased intentions to undergo screening. When delivered within a church setting, this multifaceted program may be effective in promoting cervical cancer screening in this underserved population.

Learning Areas:

Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe how a culturally-appropriate intervention program may impact Korean American women’s beliefs about cervical cancer screening. List factors that are associated with Korean American women’s intentions to undergo cervical cancer screening.

Keyword(s): Cervical Cancer, Community-Based Health Promotion

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal investigator or co-investigator on multiple federally funded grants that are focused on reducing cancer health disparities among Asian Americans. In particular, my research has included interventions designed to promote uptake of cancer screening in underserved Asian Americans.
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.

Back to: 2047.0: Innovative research on cancer prevention and control among women: Confronting and eliminating disparities (a joint session of the Cancer Forum and Women’s Caucus)