[The relationship between the optimistic bias about cancer and cancer preventive behavior of the Korean, Chinese, American, and Japanese adult residing in Korea].
OBJECTIVE
This study was conducted to provide basic data for developing education and health promotion programs for the prevention of cancer by identifying the relation between optimistic bias about cancer and cancer preventive behavior in Korean, Chinese, American, and Japanese residents in Korea.


METHODS
Using a questionnaire administered by the researcher, data were collected from a convenience sample of 600, 19 to 64-yr-old male and female Korean, Chinese, American, and Japanese residents in Korea. Data was collected between February 6 and 28, 2009.


RESULTS
Scores for optimistic bias about cancer by nationality were: Koreans, -1.03; Chinese, -0.43; Americans, -0.23; and Japanese, 0.05. The cancer preventive behavior scores were: Koreans, 43.17; Chinese, 71.84; Americans, 71.71; and Japanese, 73.97. Optimistic bias about cancer and cancer preventive behavior showed a significantly positive correlation in all participants: Koreans (r=.223, p=.006); Chinese (r=.178, p=.029); Americans (r=.225, p=.006); and Japanese (r=.402, p<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The greater the optimistic bias about cancer is, the lower the cancer preventive behavior. The findings suggest that nursing interventions are needed to reduce optimistic bias about cancer and to form a positive attitude towards cancer prevention because an optimistic bias about cancer adversely affects cancer preventive behavior.
Lee
Sul Hee
SH
Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Ham
Eun Mi
EM
D000328:Adult; D044466:Asian People; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011287:Prejudice; D056910:Republic of Korea; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000208:ethnology; D055815:Young Adult