Assessing cancer beliefs in a Chinese immigrant community
Autor: | Angela Sun, Evaon Wong-Kim, Michael C. DeMattos |
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Rok vydání: | 2003 |
Předmět: |
Gerontology
Adult China Health Knowledge Attitudes Practice media_common.quotation_subject Immigration MEDLINE Breast Neoplasms Disease 03 medical and health sciences 0504 sociology Cancer screening medicine Humans Mass Screening media_common Aged 030505 public health Asian business.industry 05 social sciences 050401 social sciences methods Cancer Hematology General Medicine Emigration and Immigration Focus Groups Middle Aged Patient Acceptance of Health Care medicine.disease Quarter (United States coin) Focus group Acculturation Oncology Health Care Surveys Female San Francisco 0305 other medical science business Attitude to Health |
Zdroj: | Cancer control : journal of the Moffitt Cancer Center. 10 |
ISSN: | 1073-2748 |
Popis: | Although many studies have focused on cancer screening utilization and attitudes, no study has yet been conducted that examines community beliefs toward a cancer diagnosis and some of the beliefs about cancer and cancer patients. While certain types of cancer have been decreasing in the White population, minority populations are more likely to be diagnosed in a later stage and die of cancer. Stigmas caused by a cancer diagnosis and the disease itself may be a contributing factor in late detection and increased mortality. A telephone survey of 798 Chinese immigrants living in San Francisco was conducted. Subjects were asked several questions with established responses regarding their beliefs about cancer. One quarter of the 798 participants still believe cancer is contagious. Many also believe cancer is caused by environmental as well as personal action such as immoral behavior. A logistic regression model indicated that women who are at a low income level and have resided in the United States for an extended period of time are more likely to believe cancer is contagious. Community stigmas toward cancer and cancer survivors will prevent some Chinese immigrants from seeking early diagnosis. Multimedia education efforts that utilize print, television, and radio may provide a point of entry to reach otherwise unreachable individuals. This concerted education effort may help to dispel some of the myths regarding cancer, its treatment, and prognosis. It is hoped this would encourage a healthy dialogue about cancer, thus increasing screening and early detection among Chinese immigrants. |
Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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