Sanam Kazemi

Abstract

Background and Purpose. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among Hispanic/Latina women who are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States. Although Hispanic women have a lower incidence of breast cancer when compared to non-Hispanic White women, they are more likely to develop breast cancer at an advanced stage. In California, Hispanic women have the lowest rate of insurance coverage compared to other ethnic groups.

Method. The study was a cross-sectional observational study among Hispanic/Latino and non-Hispanic White women, ages 30-64 years. I examined intention to obtain a mammogram or breast self-exam (BSE) or reported obtaining a mammogram or doing BSE. The health action process approach (HAPA) was the theoretical framework for this study. Questionnaire responses were obtained from a convenience sample of 100 Hispanic and 99 non-Hispanic White women, who resided in Santa Ana, California.

Results and Conclusions. Older individuals were more likely to report having a mammogram. Whites in the sample were younger than Hispanics and when age was controlled Whites were more likely to obtain a mammogram in the last year. Risk perception, outcome expectancy, and action self-efficacy predicted intention to obtain a mammogram. However, action self-efficacy was a better predictor of intention to get a mammogram for Whites while outcome expectancy was a better predictor for Hispanics. Logistic regression revealed that age, intention, and action planning were significant predictors of obtaining mammogram screening while there was a tendency for maintenance self-efficacy (p = .064) to predict mammogram screening. Regarding BSE, action self-efficacy predicted intention to do BSE. Action self-efficacy was a better predictor of intention for Whites than for Hispanics. However, risk perception predicted increased intention for BSE for Hispanics but reduced intention for Whites. Age was not a predictor of practicing BSE but Hispanics were more likely to practice BSE. Logistic regression revealed that outcome expectancies, intention, maintenance self-efficacy, and recovery self-efficacy were significant predictors of practicing breast self-examination. However, intention was a better predictor for Whites and maintenance self-efficacy only predicted breast self-exam for Whites. This information could help in the development of more effective, culturally competent health education programs to help eliminate existing health disparities among this group.

School

School of Public Health

First Advisor

Naomi N. Modeste

Second Advisor

Jerry W. Lee

Third Advisor

Patti Herring

Degree Name

Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

2011

Date (Title Page)

6-2011

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Breast -- Radiography; Breast -- Examination; Women, White -- California -- Orange County; Hispanic American women -- California -- Orange County; Mammography; Breast Self-Examination; Breast Neoplasms -- prevention & control; Women's Health -- ethnology; Health Promotion -- education; Predictive Value of Tests

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

x; 124

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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