Related Articles

Background

Access and satisfaction are determinants of preventive service use, but few studies have evaluated their role in breast and cervical cancer screening in multiethnic populations.

Objectives

We sought to investigate the relationship between race/ethnicity, access, satisfaction, and regular mammogram and Papanicolaou test receipt in 5 racial/ethnic groups.

Research Design

We conducted a telephone survey in 4 languages.

Subjects

Our subjects were black, Chinese, Filipino, Latino, or white women aged 40 to 74 residing in Alameda County, California.

Measures

Outcome: regular mammograms (last test within 15 months and another within 2 years prior) and Papanicolaou tests (36 months and 3 years, respectively). Independent: race/ethnicity, sociodemographic variables, access (health insurance, usual site of care, regular doctor, check-up within 12 months, knowing where to go, copayment for tests), and satisfaction (overall satisfaction scale, waiting times, test-related pain and embarrassment, test satisfaction).

Results

Among women who had ever had a mammogram or Papanicolaou test, 54% and 77%, respectively, received regular screening. In multivariate analyses, regular mammography was positively associated with increased age (odds ratio [OR] 1.05 per year), private insurance (OR 1.7), check-up in the past year (OR 2.3), knowing where to go for mammography (OR 3.0), and greater satisfaction with processes of care (OR 1.04 per unit), and negatively with not knowing copayment amount (OR 0.4), too many forms to fill out (OR 0.5), embarrassment at the last mammogram (OR 0.6), and Filipino race/ethnicity. Similar results were found for regular Papanicolaou tests.

Conclusions

Access and satisfaction are important predictors of screening but do little to explain racial/ethnic variation. Tailored interventions to improve regular mammography and Papanicolaou test screening in multiethnic populations are needed.

Intention, self-efficacy, perceived susceptibility, perceived benefits, and subjective norms are key constructs of health behavior theories; their predictive validity for cancer screening has not been ascertained in multiethnic populations. Participants were 1,463 African American, Chinese, Filipina, Latina, and White women aged 40 to 74 interviewed by telephone in their preferred languages. The relationship between base-line constructs and mammography 2 years later was assessed using multivariable logistic regression. Intention predicted mammography overall and among Whites (odds ratio [OR] = 5.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.4, 10), with racial/ethnic differences in association (p = .020). Self-efficacy predicted mammography overall and among Whites (OR = 3.5, 95% CI = 1.1, 11), with no racial/ethnic interaction. Perceived benefits and subjective norms were associated with screening overall and in some racial/ethnic groups. These results generally support cross-cultural applicability of four of the five constructs to screening with mixed predictive value of measures across racial/ethnic groups. Additional in-depth inquiry is required to refine assessment of constructs.

Background

Disparities in breast cancer (BC) screening continue to affect Latinas significantly but the factors that explain these disparities remain unclear.

Objective

The objective of this study was to investigate whether physician’s instruction on breast examination and mammography recommendations predicted Latinas’ adherence to mammography screening above and beyond other influential variables.

Methods

A cross-sectional, descriptive design was utilized. Convenience and snowball sampling techniques were followed to recruit 344 Latinas age 41 years and older from predominantly Latino neighborhoods in Denver, Colorado.

Main Outcome Measures

Latinas’ adherence to mammography screening recommendations by the American Cancer Society (Smith et al., 2003).

Results

Characteristics that were significantly associated with mammography adherence were age, Pap smear adherence, physician’s breast examination instructions and physician’s mammography recommendations.

Conclusion

The study provides evidence that the BC screening disparities that significantly affect Latinas can be addressed by increasing physician’s involvement through BC screening instruction and referral.

PURPOSE: To determine whether self-report of mammography and Pap smear utilization was accurate and to determine whether racial/ethnic differences existed. METHODS: Face-to-face surveys were administered to 314 consecutively selected women over 40 attending two low-income inner-city family practice sites. Medical records were reviewed for documentation of mammography and Pap smear utilization. Level of agreement between self-report and chart review was reported. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated. MAIN FINDINGS: Puerto Rican women had lower income levels and were less educated than African-American and non-Latina white women. Self-report of mammograms and Pap smears were higher than medical record documentation. Level of agreement was higher for more recent tests. Negative predictive values for mammography were high (75-95.5%). Lower sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value for mammography were seen among Puerto Rican women compared to African-American and non-Latina white women. CONCLUSIONS: High negative predictive values suggest that asking women about mammography use may be an inexpensive, easy intervention in the primary care setting to increase screening among women currently not being screened by increasing conversations between patients and providers to address personal barriers to screening.

Background

Mortality from breast cancer has increased among American Indian/Alaskan Native (AI/AN) women. Despite this alarming reality, AI/AN women have some of the lowest breast cancer screening rates. Only 37% of eligible AI/AN women report a mammogram within the last year and 52% report a mammogram within the last two years compared to 57% and 72% for White women. The experiences and satisfaction surrounding mammography for AI/AN women likely are different from that of women of other racial/ethnic groups, due to cultural differences and limited access to Indian Health Service sponsored mammography units. The overall goals of this study are to identify and understand the mammography experiences and experiential elements that relate to satisfaction or dissatisfaction with mammography services in an AI/AN population and to develop a culturally-tailored AI/AN mammography satisfaction survey.

Methods and Design

The three project aims that will be used to guide this work are: 1) To compare the mammography experiences and satisfaction with mammography services of Native American/Alaska Native women with that of Non-Hispanic White, Hispanic, and Black women, 2) To develop and validate the psychometric properties of an American Indian Mammography Survey, and 3) To assess variation among AI/AN women's assessments of their mammography experiences and mammography service satisfaction. Evaluations of racial/ethnic differences in mammography patient satisfaction have received little study, particularly among AI/AN women. As such, qualitative study is uniquely suited for an initial examination of their experiences because it will allow for a rich and in-depth identification and exploration of satisfaction elements.

Discussion

This formative research is an essential step in the development of a validated and culturally tailored AI/AN mammography satisfaction assessment. Results from this project will provide a springboard from which a maximally effective breast cancer screening program to benefit AI/AN population will be developed and tested in an effort to alter the current breast cancer-related morbidity and mortality trajectory among AI/AN women.

Introduction

The Latino population is the most rapidly growing ethnic minority in the United States and Latinas have higher rates of advanced breast cancer and more rigorous treatments than White women. However, the literature lacks reviews on quality of life among this population of breast cancer patients.

Methods

A systematic review of the breast cancer quality of life (QOL) literature was conducted among studies that provided a comparison of mental, physical, social, or sexual QOL between Latinas and other racial/ethnic groups. Of the 375 studies reviewed, 20 quantitative studies and two qualitative studies met criteria for inclusion.

Results

Latinas were more likely to report poor mental, physical, and social QOL, relative to non-Latinas. Only four studies assessed sexual QOL, making it difficult to draw any conclusions. Of these four QOL domains, the largest disparity was found in the area of mental health in which Latinas reported poorer QOL compared to non-Latina Whites and Blacks.

Discussion/conclusions

Most quantitative studies revealed either that Latinas consistently evidenced significantly lower QOL than non-Latinas on all measures (6 studies) or reported mixed findings in which Latinas generally demonstrated significantly worse QOL on most, but not all, measures (12 studies) included in the study. Explanatory mechanisms including socio-demographic, treatment-related, and culturally-relevant factors are discussed. Implications for research design, measurement, and clinical work are also included.

Implications for cancer survivors

Although not entirely consistent, data suggest that Latina breast cancer survivors on average experience worse QOL than non-Latina Whites.

Understanding ethnic differences in QOL among breast cancer survivors can inform interventions targeted at improving health status for Latinas.

OBJECTIVES: The goal of this study was to compare mammography use in Haitian women versus that of other racial/ethnic groups in the same neighborhoods and to identify factors associated with mammography use in subpopulations that are seldom studied. METHODS: A community-based, cross-sectional survey sampled a multiethnic group of inner-city women from eastern Massachusetts. Bivariate analyses and logistic regression models were used to predict lifetime and recent (within two years) mammography screening. RESULTS: Self-reported lifetime mammography use was similar for Haitian (82%), African-American (78%), Caribbean (81%) and Latina women (86%) but higher for white women (94%, p = 0.008). Mammography use in the past two years was also similar in all groups (66-82%, p = 0.41). In multivariate models, African-American (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]; 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.9) and Haitian women (AOR 0.3; 95% CI 0.1-0.9) had lower odds of lifetime mammography compared to white women. Factors independently related to lifetime and recent mammography included having a regular healthcare provider, greater knowledge of breast cancer screening; higher education, and private health insurance. CONCLUSIONS: Haitian women with a regular provider and knowledge of breast cancer screening reported recent mammography use similar to women from other racial/ethnic groups. The racial/ethnic patterns of mammography use in our study do not explain racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer stage or mortality.

Objectives

To examine racial/ethnic disparities in older women’s health-related quality of life (QOL) and type of breast cancer treatment as mediated by physician level and individual level variables.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of a population-based, consecutive sample identified through the Los Angeles Cancer Surveillance Program of Latina (n = 99), African-American (n = 66), and White (n = 92) women aged 55 years or older (N = 257) between 3 and 9 months after primary breast cancer diagnosis and at least one month post treatment. An exploratory, empirically-developed latent variable model tested the relationships among demographic and physician-related variables, patient attitudes, and health-related outcomes. Health-related outcomes included QOL measures and receipt of breast conserving surgery (BCS).

Results

Latinas reported less BCS and poorer QOL compared to Whites. Physician communication that can empower patients, in terms of patient efficacy in patient-physician interactions and breast cancer knowledge, mitigated racial/ethnic disparities in receipt of BCS. Physician emotional support was not related to patient cognitive empowerment and treatment outcomes. Medical mistrust in minority women was related to less self-efficacy and less positive coping, as well as, both directly and indirectly, to reduced QOL. Latinas reported poorer QOL in the tested model.

Conclusions

Physician communication style, specifically information-giving and participatory decision-making, may empower older women with breast cancer and help mitigate racial/ethnic disparities in surgical treatment received.

Objective

To understand area-based sociodemographics, physician and medical practice characteristics, and community indicators associated with mammography use in Los Angeles County. An earlier multi-level analysis by Gumpertz et al. found that distance to the nearest mammography facility helped explain the higher proportion of Latinas diagnosed with late stage breast cancer compared with non-Latina Whites in Los Angeles County. Our study examined whether Latinas also have lower rates of mammography use.

Methods

We used a multi-level spatial modeling approach to examine individual and community level associations with mammography use among a diverse group of women aged 40–84 years in Los Angeles County. To build our multi-level spatial data set, we integrated five data sources: (1) 2001 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) data, (2) 2001 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) certified mammography facility data, (3) 2003 LA Transit Authority data, (4) 2000 US Decennial Census data, and (5) 2001 Community Tracking Study (CTS) Physician’s Survey data.

Results

Our study confirmed for Los Angeles County many associations for mammography use found in other locations. An unexpected finding was that women with limited English proficiency (predominantly Latina) were significantly more likely to have had a recent mammogram than English-proficient women. We also found that, after controlling for other factors, mammography use was higher in neighborhoods with a greater density of mammography facilities.

Conclusion

Women with limited English proficiency were especially likely to report recent mammography in Los Angeles. This unexpected finding suggests that the intensive Spanish-language outreach program conducted by the Every Woman Counts (EWC) Program in low-income Latina communities in Los Angeles has been effective. Our study highlights the success of this targeted community-based outreach conducted between 1999 and 2001. These are the same populations that Gumpertz et al. identified as needing intervention. It would be useful to conduct another study of late-stage diagnosis in Los Angeles County to ascertain whether increased rates of mammography have also led to less late-stage diagnosis among Latinas in the neighborhoods where they are concentrated in Los Angeles.

Overall, Latinas are more likely to be diagnosed with a more advanced stage of breast cancer, and are 20% more likely to die of breast cancer than non-Hispanic white women. It is estimated that from 2003–2006, $82.0 billion in direct medical care expenditures, in addition to 100,000 lives annually, could be saved by eliminating health disparities experienced by Latinos and increasing the use of up to five preventive services in the U.S. An additional 3,700 lives could be saved if 90% of women ≥40 years were recently screened for breast cancer. We examined risk for breast cancer in a case-control population-based sample of Mexican-origin women in Harris County, TX (n=714), where rates of breast cancer mortality for Latina women have doubled since 1990. Half of breast cancer cases (n=119) were diagnosed before the age of 50. In a multivariable model, women with a family history of breast cancer (OR=4.3), born in Mexico and having high levels of language acculturation (OR=2.5), and without health insurance (OR=1.6) were found to have the highest risk of breast cancer. Because Mexican-origin women were found to be of high-risk for early onset pre-menopausal breast cancer, we recommend policies targeting screening, education and treatment to prevent increased disparities in mortality. The inclusion of community members and policymakers as partners in these endeavors would further safeguard against an increase in cancer health disparities, and aid in formulating a policy agenda congruent with scientifically-based, community-driven policy efforts addressing breast cancer screening, education and treatment in this vulnerable population.

Background

The study objectives were to compare and examine mammography use trends among ethnic/racial women in the context of United States Healthy People 2010 goals.

Methods

We analyzed pooled, multistage probability sample data from the 1996–2007 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey. Included in the sample were female respondents ages 40–75 years (n=64,811) from six ethnic/racial groups (Black, White, Mexican, Other Latinas, Puerto Rican and Cuban). The primary outcome was self-reported, past two-year mammography use consistent with screening practice guidelines.

Results

We found that for most U.S. women, the Healthy People 2010 mammography goal (70%) was achieved between 1996 and 2007. Puerto Rican and White women, respectively, had the highest mammography rates, and Black and Cuban women had rates that approached the 2010 goal.

Conclusion

Mexican Latinas reported the lowest rates of past two-year mammography; however, factors enabling healthcare access markedly moderated this lower likelihood. From 2000, Mexican Latinas’ mammography use was markedly below (10%) the Healthy People 2010 goal and remained there for the duration.

Impact

Our findings indicate that healthcare equity goals are attainable if efforts are made to reach a sizeable portion of vulnerable populations.

We conducted a telephone survey of randomly selected Latinas (n = 208) and Anglo women (n = 222) to determine predictors of mammography use. The cooperation rate was 78.5%. Relatively high proportions of Latinas (61%) and Anglo women (79%) reported mammography use within the past 2 years. A logistic regression analysis revealed that knowledge and attitudes did not independently predict use. On the other hand, having health insurance, being married, and being Latino were consistent independent predictors. We conclude that mammography use among Latinas and Anglo women is increasing. However, further gains in use must address difficult barriers such as lack of health insurance.

Background

Evidence is mounting that annual mammography for women in their 40s may be the optimal schedule to reduce morbidity and mortality from breast cancer. Few studies have assessed predictors of repeat mammography on an annual interval among these women.

Methods

We assessed mammography screening status among 596 insured Black and Non-Hispanic white women ages 43 to 49. Adherence was defined as having a second mammogram 10 to 14 months after a previous mammogram. We examined socio-demographic, medical and healthcare-related variables on receipt of annual-interval repeat mammograms. We also assessed barriers associated with screening.

Results

44.8% of the sample were adherent to annual-interval mammography. A history of self-reported abnormal mammograms, family history of breast cancer and never having smoked were associated with adherence. Saying they had not received mammography reminders and reporting barriers to mammography were associated with non-adherence. Four barrier categories were associated with women's non-adherence: lack of knowledge/not thinking mammograms are needed, cost, being too busy, and forgetting to make/keep appointments.

Conclusions

Barriers we identified are similar to those found in other studies. Health professionals may need to take extra care in discussing mammography screening risk and benefits due to ambiguity about screening guidelines for women in their 40s, especially for women without family histories of breast cancer or histories of abnormal mammograms. Reminders are important in promoting mammography and should be coupled with other strategies to help women maintain adherence to regular mammography.

Background

Latinos are less likely than non-Hispanic whites to be adequately treated for depression. Intimate partner violence (IPV) is strongly associated with depression. Less is known about how Latina IPV survivors understand depression.

Objective

To understand Latina women's beliefs, attitudes, and recommendations regarding depression and depression care, with a special focus on the impact of gender, ethnicity, violence, and social stressors.

Design

Focus group study.

Participants

Spanish-speaking Latina women with a lifetime history of IPV and moderate to severe depressive symptoms.

Approach

We used a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to conduct a thematic analysis using an inductive approach.

Results

Thirty-one women participated in five focus groups. Women felt depression is caused by “keeping things inside”. They also felt that keeping things inside could lead to physical illness or an inability to function. Their inability to talk was fueled by issues such as stigma, fear, isolation, cultural norms, or simply “not having the words”. They felt that the key to treating depression was finding a way to talk about the things that they had kept inside. They greatly valued information about depression and appreciated learning from providers that their physical symptoms were caused by depression. They wanted confidential depression care programs that not only helped them deal with their depression, but also addressed the violence in their lives, gave them practical skills, and attended to practical issues such as childcare. They had negative attitudes toward antidepressants, primarily due to experiences with side effects. Negative experiences with the health care system were primarily attributed to lack of good healthcare insurance.

Conclusions

The concept of "keeping things inside" was key to participants' understanding of the cause of depression and other health problems. Clinicians and depression care programs can potentially use such information to provide culturally-appropriate depression care to Latina women.

Older Latina women are one of the least studied American demographic groups with regard to social, health, or sexual behavior. This could leave social workers and other geriatric professionals unprepared for dealing with HIV/AIDS in this population. Currently, older Latina women are one of the fastest growing groups of new AIDS cases. Twenty percent of all women ever diagnosed with the disease are Latina and 5.5% of Latinas infected with the virus are older. The number of diagnosed infections is increasing in older women, including Latinas, in spite of recent declines in infection rates with younger populations. There are also a potentially large number of cases that go misdiagnosed or undiagnosed.

This article also addresses risk and protective factors related to gender roles, traditional Latino family values, religion, socioeconomic factors, health, and health care, with special attention to the triple jeopardy faced by this population by virtue of being female, seniors, and minorities. The article concludes with recommendations for the development of culturally competent practices with older Latinas and the development of a research agenda to better understand their risk-related and health-seeking behavior.

Purpose

There is concern that minority women have limited access to breast reconstruction. We described patterns of use, experiences with clinicians, and patients' satisfaction with treatment decisions for women of different race/ethnicities.

Methods

A total of 3,252 patients with breast cancer from Los Angeles and Detroit Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries were surveyed near the time of diagnosis (n = 2,260, response rate 72.2%). The primary outcomes were receipt of reconstruction, access to information about reconstruction, and decisional satisfaction. The primary independent variable was race/ethnicity (white, African American [AA], highly acculturated Latina [Latina-high], and less acculturated Latina [Latina-low]). Control variables included other sociodemographic and clinical factors. χ2 and multivariate logistic regression were used for the analyses.

Results

Receipt of reconstruction varied significantly by patient race/ethnicity—40.9% of whites, 33.5% of AAs, 41.2% of Latina-high, and only 13.5% of Latina-low (P < .001)—and persisted when we controlled for demographic and clinical factors. Minority women were significantly less likely than whites to see a plastic surgeon before initial surgery and were more likely to desire more information about reconstruction (17.0% of whites v 27.0% of AAs, 30.0% of Latina-high, and 55.9% of Latina-low; P < .001). Decisional satisfaction was lowest among minority women without reconstruction (P < .001).

Conclusion

Minority women, particularly less acculturated Latinas, had low receipt of breast reconstruction, which may be related to limited information about the procedure and less access to plastic surgeons. Greater desire for information and lower satisfaction with surgical decisions among these patients motivate greater attention to treatment support for these patients.

Objectives

Reasons obese women are less likely to obtain mammograms and Pap smears are poorly understood. This study evaluated associations between body mass index (BMI) and receipt of and adherence to physician recommendations for mammography and Pap smear.

Methods

Data from the 2000 National Health Interview Survey (8289 women aged 40-74 years) were analyzed in 2006 using logistic regression. Women with prior hysterectomy were excluded from Pap smear analyses (n=5521). Outcome measures were being up-to-date with screening, receipt of physician recommendations, and women's adherence to physician recommendations for mammography and Pap smear.

Results

After adjusting for sociodemographic variables, health care access, health behaviors, and comorbidity, severely obese women (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m2) were less likely to have mammography within 2 years (OR 0.50; 95% CI 0.37, 0.68) and Pap smear within 3 years (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27,0.70). Obese women were as likely as normal weight women to receive physician recommendations for mammography and Pap smear. Severely obese women were less likely to adhere to physician recommendation for mammography (OR 0.49; 95% CI, 0.32-0.76). Women in all obese categories (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were less likely to adhere to physician recommendation for Pap smear (OR's ranged 0.17-0.28; p<0.001).

Conclusions

Obese women are less likely to adhere to physician recommendations for breast and cervical cancer screening. Interventions focusing solely on increasing physician recommendations for mammography and Pap smears will probably be insufficient for obese women. Additional strategies are needed to make cancer screening more acceptable for this high-risk group.

OBJECTIVES

To examine factors influencing sexual activity and functioning in racially- and ethnically-diverse, middle-aged and older women.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional cohort study

SETTING

Integrated health care delivery system

PARTICIPANTS

1,977 women aged 45 to 80 years

MEASUREMENTS

Self-administered questionnaires assessed sexual desire, activity, satisfaction, and problems.

RESULTS

Of the 1,977 participants (including 876 White, 388 African American, 347 Latina, and 351 Asian women), 43% reported at least moderate sexual desire, and 60% were sexually active in the previous 3 months. Half of sexually active participants (n=969) described their overall sexual satisfaction as moderate to high. Among sexually inactive women, the most common reason for inactivity was lack of interest in sex (39%), followed by lack of a partner (36%), physical problem of partner (23%), and lack of interest by partner (11%); only 9% were inactive from personal physical problems. In multivariable analysis, African-American women were more likely than white women to report at least moderate desire (OR=1.65, 95%CI=1.25-2.17) but less likely to report weekly sexual activity (OR=0.68, 95%CI=0.48-0.96); sexually active Latina women were more likely than white women to report at least moderate sexual satisfaction (OR=1.75, 95%CI=1.20-2.55).

CONCLUSION

A substantial proportion of community-dwelling women remain interested and engaged in sexual activity into older age. Lack of a partner capable of or interested in sex may contribute more to sexual inactivity than personal health problems in this population. Racial/ethnic differences in self-reported sexual desire, activity, and satisfaction may influence discussions about sexual difficulties in middle-aged and older women.

Medically underserved women in the Greater Denver Metropolitan Area had low rates of routine repeat mammograms in the latter 1990s. “Increasing Mammography Adherence among Medically Underserved Women” was designed to increase annual rescreening among medically underserved populations living in this area. Four community-based organizations collaborated to implement this 5-year study. A culturally modified navigator model including both face-to-face and telephone formats was used to facilitate mammography for African Americans, Latinas, Native Americans, and poor White women who had not been rescreened in more than 18 months. The navigator-implemented intervention was statistically significant at the 0.05 level for increasing rescreening.

Objectives

To describe recruitment of Latinas in a randomized clinical trial conducted within 2 health-care organizations.

Methods

The study relied on project-initiated telephone calls as part of a multi-faceted recruitment approach. Chi-square and t tests were conducted to compare participants and nonparticipants on a number of variables.

Results

From 4,045 telephone contacts, 280 Latinas agreed to participate. Most were ineligible due to non-Latino ethnicity (89%). Of eligible candidates, 61% took part. Few significant differences were found on participant vs. nonparticipant characteristics.

Conclusion

Using appropriate recruitment procedures, a representative sample of Latinas can be obtained.

Abstract

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship of satisfaction with the cancer care doctor and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among Latina breast cancer survivors (BCS) by (1) assessing whether satisfaction would be positively correlated with HRQOL and (2) assessing whether satisfaction would significantly influence HRQOL while controlling for covariates.

Methods

The cross-sectional study used self-report data from 117 Latina BCS. Satisfaction was measured with the Hall Satisfaction Index, and HRQOL was measured with the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General (FACT-G). Analyses included calculation of descriptive statistics, t tests, bivariate correlations, analyses of variance (ANOVAs), and multivariate analyses.

Results

Latina BCS had high satisfaction and generally good HRQOL. The Hall Satisfaction Index total score was positively associated with FACT-G functional well-being (r=0.265, p=0.004). Multivariate analyses showed that the Hall Satisfaction Index total score was a significant predictor of FACT-G functional well-being (p=0.012). Employment status was also a significant predictor, where being employed or retired resulted in better functional well-being than being unemployed.

Conclusions

Latina BCS were quite satisfied with their cancer care doctors, and high levels of satisfaction with the cancer care doctor influenced functional well-being when confounding variables were controlled. Despite reportedly high satisfaction, Latina BCS did report barriers to satisfaction that could be considered cultural. Implications are discussed.

Abstract

Aims

This study explores whether certain population characteristics are associated with adherence to mammography screening guidelines among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white (NHW) women living in the southwestern United States.

Methods

Participants in a population-based study (4-Corners' Breast Cancer Study) included in this analysis were 790 Hispanic women and 1441 NHW women. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compute the ethnic-specific adjusted odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the association of the outcome variable (adherent vs. nonadherent) and its correlates. Women were adherent if they had obtained their first mammogram between 41 and 50 years of age and had received at least one mammogram per 2 years or less.

Results

Ethnic-specific associations were observed with certain population characteristics and mammography adherence. Specifically, characteristics that were significantly associated with adherence among Hispanic women were younger age (50–59 years), having a family history of breast cancer, nulliparity, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use, and performing regular breast self-examinations (BSE). Among NHW women, younger age (50–59 years), family history of breast cancer, obesity, consuming moderate amounts of alcohol, and taking HRT were associated with mammography adherence. When adjusting for the evaluated population characteristics, the relationship between ethnicity and mammography adherence was no longer apparent.

Conclusions

Ethnic-specific characteristics appear to explain differences in mammography adherence among Hispanic and NHW women. Disparities in screening rates, late-stage disease and breast cancer mortality that impact Hispanic women could potentially be addressed more effectively by interventions that specifically target the unique characteristics of the Hispanic population.

Introduction

Latinas are more likely to be inactive than non-Hispanic white women. Although 74% of Latinas report no leisure-time activity, few interventions have been designed to promote physical activity among these women. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of the California WISEWOMAN program on low-income Latinas's readiness to change physical activity and on self-reported physical activity behaviors.

Methods

We screened 1,332 women for cardiovascular disease risk factors and randomly assigned 1,093 women to 2 groups: an enhanced intervention (n = 552) or usual care (n = 541). The enhanced intervention was delivered by community health workers in one-on-one counseling sessions. We examined self-reported readiness to change and physical activity at baseline and 12-month follow-up among participants who completed both assessments (n = 868).

Results

Mean age of participants was 52 years (standard deviation, 6 y); most (65%) were Mexican or Mexican American, and most (81%) were not high school graduates. A higher percentage (67%) of the enhanced intervention group was in the action/maintenance stage for vigorous physical activity at follow-up compared with baseline (47%). We found no such change among women in usual care (52%, baseline; 58%, follow-up). A higher percentage of the enhanced intervention group also reported significant increases in moderate (71%, baseline; 84%, follow-up) and vigorous (13% to 33%) physical activity at follow-up than at baseline. Women in usual care reported no changes.

Conclusion

A culturally tailored adaptation of the WISEWOMAN program that used community health workers significantly improved both self-reported readiness to engage in physical activity and vigorous physical activity among low-income Latinas.

National surveys and other research on adolescent Latinas show that adolescent females have higher rates of suicidal ideation, planning, and attempts than other ethnic and racial minority youth. Internalizing behaviors and family conflicts are commonly associated with suicidality in research on adolescents. In the case of Latinas, we explore the connection between adolescent Hispanic cultural involvement, mother-adolescent mutuality, internalizing behaviors, and suicidality. This paper presents data from a study of 232 Latinas, some with a recent history of suicide attempts (n = 122). The results show that higher adolescent Hispanic cultural involvement was associated with greater mother-daughter mutuality and thus led to reduction in the likelihood of suicide attempts. The relationship between mother-daughter mutuality and suicide attempts among Latinas is mediated by specific internalizing behaviors (withdrawn depressive). Our findings highlight the positive effect that Latino cultural values have in the relationship between Latina adolescent and their mothers and confirm the importance that internalizing behaviors and the mother-daughter relationship have for suicide attempters.

OBJECTIVE: To describe national trends in mammography use by race and income and to test whether higher use of mammography among low-income African American women than low-income white women can be explained by health insurance coverage, usual place of health care, or place of residence. DATA SOURCES/STUDY SETTING: Data from five years of the National Health Interview Survey spanning the period 1987-1994. STUDY DESIGN: Trends in the percentage of women 50-64 years of age with a mammogram within the past two years were analyzed by race and income. Data for 1993-1994 were pooled, and with logistic regression analysis, variation in use of recent mammography for low-income women was investigated. Independent variables are age, race, family income, education, health insurance coverage, place of usual source of health care, metropolitan residence, and geographic region. DATA COLLECTION/EXTRACTION METHODS: The National Health Interview Survey is a cross-sectional national survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics. Data are collected through household interviews. [Editor's note: in keeping with HSR policy, the term black is used to conform to its use in the surveys studied. In other references to race, the term African American is used.] PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Among women 50-64 years of age use of recent mammograms increased rapidly between 1987 and 1991 for all groups of women, and between 1991 and 1994 the increases slowed. However, increases between 1991 and 1994 have been more rapid among low-income black women than among low-income white women. In 1993-1994, low-income black women were about one-third more likely than low-income white women to report mammography within the past two years. This difference could not be explained by health insurance coverage, usual source of health care, metropolitan status, or region of residence. CONCLUSIONS: These results, which provide some evidence of success for screening programs targeted to the poor, raise the question of why low-income black women appear to be to more likely than low-income white women to have benefited from recent efforts to promote mammography. Continued evaluation of mammography programs focused on women who are underserved as well as the monitoring of trends and variations in service use by race and income are needed.