title: Health sources of cancer screening knowledge for Vietnamese women.
abstract: The study examined sources of health information among Vietnamese women and whether these sources were associated with cancer screening outcomes. One hundred eleven participants completed a questionnaire with measures of breast and cervical cancer screening attitudes, efficacy, and behavior. A factor analysis of items that measured sources for information on cancer screening produced three factors: English media sources, Vietnamese media sources, and informal sources. These sources were included along with demographic variables in regression analyses to predict cancer screening outcomes. Results indicated that using informal sources for breast screening information predicted positive attitudes toward breast cancer screening and efficacy for breast and cervical cancer screening. Reliance on Vietnamese media sources was associated with lower cervical screening efficacy. Being older, having health insurance, and a higher income were associated with favorable cancer screening outcomes. The findings suggest that cancer screening programs for Vietnamese women should take into consideration preferred mediums for receiving health information.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Prevention Fellowship Program, The National Cancer Institute, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA. Anguyen@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Anh B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: Faye Z
authors.initials: FZ
authors.lastname: Belgrave
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology; D014626:Vaginal Smears; D014744:Vietnam; D014930:Women / Q000193:education*; D055815:Young Adult