Effects of personal characteristics on African-American women's beliefs about breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
This study measured the effect of demographic and clinical characteristics on health and cultural beliefs related to mammography.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Interviews were conducted during 2003 and 2004 in a Midwestern urban area.


METHODS
Subjects were 344 low-income African-American women 40 years and older who had not had mammography within the previous 18 months.


METHODS
The instrument measured personal characteristics, belief and knowledge scales, and participants' mammography experience and plans.


METHODS
Multiple regression analysis assessed the effect of specific demographic and clinical characteristics on each of the scale values and on subjects' stages of readiness to change.


RESULTS
The subjects' levels of education significantly affected six of the 12 belief and knowledge scales. Higher-educated women felt less susceptible to breast cancer, had higher self-efficacy, had less fear, had lower fatalism scores, were less likely to be present-time oriented, and were more knowledgeable about breast cancer. Older women felt they were less susceptible to breast cancer, had higher fatalism scores, were more present-time oriented, and were less knowledgeable about breast cancer.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings suggest that mammography promotion programs for African-Americans should consider the education levels and ages of the target women to be most effective.
Zollinger
Terrell W
TW
Bowen Research Center and Department of Family Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. tzolling@iupui.edu
Champion
Victoria L
VL
Monahan
Patrick O
PO
Steele-Moses
Susan K
SK
Ziner
Kim W
KW
Zhao
Qianqian
Q
Bourff
Sara A
SA
Saywell
Robert M
RM
Russell
Kathleen M
KM
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology*; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008327:Mammography / Q000523:psychology*; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015146:Midwestern United States