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Breast Cancer and Mammography Screening: Knowledge, Beliefs and Predictors for Asian Immigrant Women Attending a Specialized Clinic in British Columbia, Canada

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Abstract

Screening mammography (MMG) reduces breast cancer mortality; however, Asian immigrant women underutilize MMG. The Asian Women’s Health Clinic (AWHC) was established to promote women’s cancer screening amongst this population. This study evaluated the rate, and predictors, of MMG amongst women attending the AWHC. Women (N = 98) attending the AWHC completed a questionnaire. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression evaluated rate and predictors of MMG. Most participants (87 %, n = 85) reported having had a mammogram. Significant MMG predictors were: lower perceived MMG barriers [lifetime: OR (CI) 1.19 (1.01–1.49); past 2 years: OR (CI) 1.11 (1.01–1.25)], and knowing someone with breast cancer [past year: OR (CI) 3.42 (1.25–9.85); past 2 years: OR (CI) 4.91 (1.32–2.13)]. Even amongst women using preventive medicine, 13 % report never having had a mammogram. More research is needed into innovative interventions, e.g. the AWHC, and breast cancer-related outcomes amongst Asian immigrant women.

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Acknowledgments

Foremost, we would like to thank the women who participated in this study. We would also like to thank Dr. Frances Lee-Lin for providing permission to utilize the questionnaire in the current study, and the AWHC staff for their support of the study. Finally, we would like to thank the British Columbia Cancer Agency Screening Programs Community Grants Funds for supporting this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Women’s Health Research Institute, Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Catriona Hippman, Arezu Moshrefzadeh, Zoe Lohn, Zoë G. Hodgson, Kathryn Dewar, Melanie Lam & Arianne Y. K. Albert

  2. Asian Women’s Health Clinic, Women’s Hospital and Health Centre, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Melanie Lam & Juliet Kwong

  3. Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Translational Research Building, 3rd Floor-938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada

    Catriona Hippman

  4. BC Mental Health and Addictions Research Institute, BC Mental Health and Substance Use Services, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Catriona Hippman

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  1. Catriona Hippman
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  2. Arezu Moshrefzadeh
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  3. Zoe Lohn
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  4. Zoë G. Hodgson
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Correspondence to Catriona Hippman.

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Hippman, C., Moshrefzadeh, A., Lohn, Z. et al. Breast Cancer and Mammography Screening: Knowledge, Beliefs and Predictors for Asian Immigrant Women Attending a Specialized Clinic in British Columbia, Canada. J Immigrant Minority Health 18, 1441–1448 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0332-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-015-0332-8

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