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Perceived risk of breast cancer among Latinas attending community clinics: risk comprehension and relationship with mammography adherence

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Abstract

Objective

To describe breast cancer risk perceptions, determine risk comprehension, and evaluate mammography adherence among Latinas.

Methods

Latina women age ≥35, primarily from Central and South America, were recruited from community-based clinics to complete in-person interviews (n = 450). Risk comprehension was calculated as the difference between numeric perceived risk and Gail risk score. Based on recommended guidelines from the year data were collected (2002), mammography adherence was defined as having a mammogram every one to two years for women ≥40 years of age.

Results

Breast cancer risk comprehension was low, as 81% of women overestimated their risk and only 6.9% of women were high risk based on Gail risk scores. Greater cancer worry and younger age were significantly associated with greater perceived risk and risk overestimation. Of women age eligible for mammography (n = 328), 29.0% were non-adherent to screening guidelines. Adherence was associated with older age, (OR = 2.99, 95% CI = 1.76–5.09), having insurance (OR = 1.81, 95% CI = 1.03–3.17), greater acculturation (OR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02–1.36), and higher breast cancer knowledge (OR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.21–3.40).

Conclusions

While most Latinas over-estimated their breast cancer risk, older age, having insurance, being more acculturated, and having greater knowledge were associated with greater screening adherence in this Latino population. Perceived risk, risk comprehension, and cancer worry were not associated with adherence. In Latinas, screening interventions should emphasize knowledge and target education efforts at younger, uninsured, and less acculturated mammography-eligible women.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all the women who participated in this study, as well as Susan Marx for assistance with manuscript preparation. Our sincere appreciation also goes to Janet Canar, Jyl Pomeroy, and Yosselyn Rodriguez for data collection at each of the clinics; and to Michael Sanchez, Maria Lopez-Class, and Barbara Kreiling for information about the LACRC clinics.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Oncology, Cancer Control Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, 3300 Whitehaven Street, NW, Suite 4100, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    Kristi D. Graves, Elmer Huerta, Elizabeth Kaufman, Vanessa Sheppard, Marc D. Schwartz & Jeanne Mandelblatt

  2. Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, 20010, USA

    Elmer Huerta

  3. American Legacy Foundation, Washington, DC, 20036, USA

    Jennifer Cullen

  4. Department of Biostatistics, Bioinformatics, and Biomathematics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20007, USA

    George Luta

  5. Clinical Breast Cancer Program, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, 20057, USA

    Claudine Isaacs

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  1. Kristi D. Graves
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kristi D. Graves.

Additional information

Supported by Grants U01CA86114, U01CA114593, K05CA96940 (JM), and K07CA131172 (KG) from the National Cancer Institute.

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Graves, K.D., Huerta, E., Cullen, J. et al. Perceived risk of breast cancer among Latinas attending community clinics: risk comprehension and relationship with mammography adherence. Cancer Causes Control 19, 1373–1382 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9209-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-008-9209-7

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