title: Decision making for Pap testing among Pacific Islander women.
abstract: This study employed a Multi-Attribute Utility (MAU) model to examine the Pap test decision-making process among Pacific Islanders (PI) residing in Southern California. A total of 585 PI women were recruited through social networks from Samoan and Tongan churches, and Chamorro family clans. A questionnaire assessed Pap test knowledge, beliefs and past behaviour. The three MAU parameters of subjective value, subjective probability and momentary salience were measured for eight anticipated consequences of having a Pap test (e.g., feeling embarrassed, spending money). Logistic regression indicated that women who had a Pap test (Pap women) had higher total MAU utility scores compared to women who had not had a Pap test within the past three years (No Pap women) (adjusted Odds Ratio = 1.10). In particular, Pap women had higher utilities for the positive consequences 'Detecting cervical cancer early, Peace of mind, and Protecting my family', compared to No Pap women. It is concluded that the connection between utility and behaviour offers a promising pathway toward a better understanding of the decision to undergo Pap testing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton jweiss@fullerton.edu jweiss@fullerton.edu.
authors.forename: Jie W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mouttapa
authors.affiliation: Guam Communications Network, Inc.
authors.forename: Lola
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sablan-Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton.
authors.forename: Jasmine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DeGuzman Lacsamana
authors.affiliation: Guam Communications Network, Inc.
authors.forename: Lourdes
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Quitugua
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, California State University, Fullerton.
authors.forename: Sora
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park Tanjasiri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice / Q000208:ethnology; D006801:Humans; D044468:Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D065006:Papanicolaou Test / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000517:prevention & control