An intervention to increase mammography use by Korean American women.
OBJECTIVE
To test the effectiveness of a community-based intervention to increase mammography screening for Korean American women.


METHODS
Quasi-experimental, pre-/post-test, three-group design.


METHODS
Urban Korean American communities in Southern California.


METHODS
141 Korean American women, aged 40-75, who had not had a mammogram in the previous 12 months.


METHODS
Two Korean churches were selected randomly to be study sites that would provide health screening programs. The study included an experimental group that would have access to a peer-group educational program and low-cost mammography, a group that would have access to low-cost mammography alone, and a control group. Participant-focused strategies were used to involve Korean American women from the community.


METHODS
Mammography use, breast cancer screening attitudes, and knowledge.


RESULTS
Women in the experimental program had significantly improved attitudes and knowledge about breast cancer screening. Mammography use in the experimental group (87%) was not significantly different from that in the mammography-access-only group (72%). Both interventions proved to be more effective than no intervention at all (control group = 47%).


CONCLUSIONS
An educational program that includes participant-focused research strategies and access to low-cost mammograms resulted in higher levels of screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Community-focused interventions can increase rates of cancer screening among Korean American women.
Kim
Young H
YH
School of Nursing, Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, USA. ykim@apu.edu
Sarna
Linda
L
D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control; D002140:California; D003159:Community-Institutional Relations; D005260:Female; D006126:Group Processes; D006266:Health Education / Q000458:organization & administration; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D008327:Mammography / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D008952:Mobile Health Units; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010379:Peer Group