title: Cultural Factors Associated with Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening in Korean American Women in the US: An Integrative Literature Review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study examined current research theories and methods, cultural factors, and culturally relevant interventions associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in Korean American (KA) women.
  
  
  METHODS
  Based on Ganong's guidelines, the literature on cultural factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in KA women was searched using MEDLINE and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) databases. Sixty-eight articles on breast cancer screening and 66 articles on cervical cancer screening were retrieved from both databases, and a total of 22 articles were included in the literature review based on the selection criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 22 studies reviewed, 14 (63.6%) were descriptive and 8 (36.4%) were interventional. Many studies have used individual focused cognitive theories such as health belief model and different types of operationalization for measures of cultural beliefs. Cultural factors associated with breast and cervical cancer screening in KA women that were identified in descriptive quantitative and qualitative studies included family, embarrassment, preventive health orientation, fatalism, and acculturation. Most culturally relevant interventional studies used education programs, and all education was conducted by bilingual and bicultural health educators at sociocultural sites for KA women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Theories focusing on interpersonal relationships and standardized, reliable, and valid instruments to measure cultural concepts are needed to breast and cervical cancer screening research in KA women. Traditional cultural factors associated with cancer screening should be considered for practical implications and future research with KA women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nursing, Chosun University, Gwangju, South Korea. Electronic address: slee@chosun.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Shin-Young
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000208:ethnology; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000208:ethnology; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Korean Americans; breast cancer; cervical cancer; culture; screening