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Predicting Breast and Colon Cancer Screening Among English-as-a-Second-Language Older Chinese Immigrant Women to Canada

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Abstract

Little is known about the cancer screening behaviors of older ESL Chinese immigrant women. To explore predictors of colon and breast cancer screening in this population, 103 Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking immigrant women ages 50 years and older were recruited. Participants completed questionnaires to evaluate screening behaviors, health literacy, and demographic characteristics. Eighty-five percent self-reported that they were current breast cancer screeners, and 75% were current colon cancer screeners. Recommendation from a physician, having a female physician, and high or moderate proficiency in English predicted current mammography screening. Physician recommendation, first language, and self-efficacy predicted use of colon cancer screening. Bivariate analyses also revealed an association between use of colon cancer screening and greater health literacy and longer residency in Canada. Important predictors of screening emerged that potentially informs interventions to increase cancer prevention among older Chinese immigrants. The essential role of physician recommendation was identified for both breast and colon cancer screening.

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Acknowledgement

Work was supported by a grant from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. The authors gratefully thank C. Wu and J. Guan for help with recruitment, the 103 women who participated in this study, and our community partner, the Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Network-Waterloo Region.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Laura Todd & Laurie Hoffman-Goetz

  2. Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada, N2L 3G1

    Erin Harvey

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  1. Laura Todd
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  2. Erin Harvey
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  3. Laurie Hoffman-Goetz
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Correspondence to Laurie Hoffman-Goetz.

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Todd, L., Harvey, E. & Hoffman-Goetz, L. Predicting Breast and Colon Cancer Screening Among English-as-a-Second-Language Older Chinese Immigrant Women to Canada. J Canc Educ 26, 161–169 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0141-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-010-0141-7

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