A qualitative study to better understand Asian American women's cancer screening decisions

Includes bibliographical references (p. 39-42)Cancer is the leading cause of death in the Asian American (AA) population; yet cancer screening rates in the AA population are lower compared to other major racial groups. To have a better understanding of AA women's health decisions, especially in choosing to screen for cancer, a qualitative exploratory study was conducted. Participants were asked to complete a brief health survey and a one-time in-depth interview regarding their perceptions of health, cancer, and cancer screening. A total of 26 AA women completed the study. Results of constant comparison analysis showed that (a) accurate knowledge about a health behavior is important to make an informed decision about cancer screening, (b) social contacts may be instrumental in raising awareness about health and cancer issues, and (c) having healthcare coverage provided the access to screen for cancer and paved the way for participants to have a relationship with their healthcare provider and receive reminders to screen for cancer. Through exploration of AA women's health and cancer screening perceptions, findings from this study will add to the scant research available on the AA population and may be used to better tailor cancer screening interventions for AA women