"Heat in their intestine": colorectal cancer prevention beliefs among older Chinese Americans.
OBJECTIVE
Data regarding disease prevention behaviors among Asian-American populations are limited. This study explored the beliefs of older Chinese Americans toward colorectal cancer screening modalities, including fecal occult blood testing (FOBT).


METHODS
We conducted 30 semistructured, open-ended, qualitative interviews in Mandarin and Cantonese, focusing on colorectal cancer prevention and health-seeking behavior. Participants were Chinese patients 50-79 years of age recruited from a community clinic in Seattle, Washington.


RESULTS
When asked about colorectal cancer prevention, interviewees discussed such concepts as maintenance of positive energy (qi) and spirit (jing shen) and moderation of exercise and diet. Until prompted, participants did not discuss FOBT. Interviewees believed that colorectal cancer was caused by diets high in foods with "heat" (huo qi) or by intestinal toxins from frequent constipation. Participants presumed that FOBT is unnecessary in the absence of symptoms.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients in our study expressed beliefs about health promotion and causes of colorectal cancer that differed from Western biomedical concepts. Failure to recognize these different beliefs may create inadvertent confusion among elderly Chinese-American patients. Health promotion programs to increase colorectal cancer screening must incorporate these concepts to improve cultural relevance among Chinese-American patients.
Choe
John H
JH
Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington, 325 Ninth Avenue, Box 359780, Seattle, WA 98104, USA. johnchoe@u.washington.edu
Tu
Shin-Ping
SP
Lim
Jeanette M
JM
Burke
Nancy J
NJ
Acorda
Elizabeth
E
Taylor
Vicky M
VM
D000368:Aged; D001213:Asian; D001294:Attitude to Health; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008875:Middle Aged; D014861:Washington