Article

Comparison of Factors Affecting Repeat Mammography Screening of Low-Income Mexican American Women

Gloria Lopez-McKee

Jeanette A. McNeill

Julia O. Bader

Pat Morales

mammography, Latina, cancer screening
ONF 2008, 35(6), 941-947. DOI: 10.1188/08.ONF.941-947

Purpose/Objectives: To examine the level of cancer fatalism and other sociocognitive behavioral determinants in Mexican American women categorized as regular mammography screeners and infrequent mammography screeners.

Design: Cross-sectional, descriptive.

Setting: A southwestern American city on the U. S.-Mexico border.

Sample: 68 Mexican American women with low incomes recruited from a cancer consortium database.

Methods: Women who had been identified as regular or infrequent screeners based on screening history were contacted and invited to participate in a telephone survey. Participation consisted of completing the Powe Fatalism Inventory (PFI) and the Mammography Beliefs and Attitudes Questionnaire (MBAQ) in English or Spanish.

Main Research Variables: Total scores on the PFI and total scores on each of the MBAQ subscales.

Findings: Differences between the two groups were noted in cancer fatalism, perceived control over their participation in screening activities, and family history of cancer. No significant differences were noted in demographic characteristics.

Conclusions: Cancer fatalism, generally believed to be highly related to socioeconomic status, may be mediated by women's perceptions of control over screening behavior or choices and by family history of cancer.

Implications for Nursing: Further research is needed to explore cancer fatalism among Hispanic women, including other factors that can affect the level of cancer fatalism and perceived control over mammography screening participation. With this knowledge, culturally sensitive interventions may be developed to increase self-efficacy and facilitate perceived control.

Jump to a section

    References

    Ahmed, N. U., Fort, J. G., Elzey, J. D., & Bailey, S. (2004). Empowering factors in repeat mammography: Insights from the stories of underserved women. Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, 27(4), 348-355.
    Ajzen, I. (1985). From intentions to actions: A theory of planned behavior. In J. Kuhl & J. Beckman (Eds.), Action-control: From cognition to behavior (pp. 11-39). New York: Springer.
    American Cancer Society. (2007). Cancer facts and figures for Hispanics. Retrieved July 9, 2007, from http://www.cancer.org/docroot/stt/stt_0.asp
    Blackman, D., & Masi, C. (2006). Racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer mortality: Are we doing enough to address the root causes? Journal of Clinical Oncology, 24(14), 2170-2178.
    Buriel, R., & Rivera, L. (1980). The relationship of locus of control to family income and familism among Anglo and Mexican American high school students. Journal of Social Psychology, 111(1), 27-34.
    Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2003). The National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program fact sheet. Retrieved July 9, 2007, from http://www.cdc.gov/cancer/nbccedp
    Chiappone, D., & Kroes, W. (1979). Fatalism in coal miners. Psychological Reports, 44(3, Pt. 2), 1175-1180.
    Comas-Diaz, L. (1989). Culturally relevant issues and treatment implications for Hispanics. In D. R. Koslow & E. C. Salett (Eds.), Crossing cultures in mental health (pp. 31-48). Washington, DC: Society for International Education and Training Research.
    Dettenborn, L., DuHamel, K., Butts, G., Thompson, H., & Jandorf, L. (2005). Cancer fatalism and its demographic correlates among African American and Hispanic women: Effects on adherence to cancer screening. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 22(4), 47-60.
    Farmer, D., Reddick, B., D'Agostino, R., & Jackson, S. (2007). Psychosocial correlates of mammography screening in older African American women. Oncology Nursing Forum, 34(1), 117-123.
    Fernandez, M., Palmer, R., & Leong-Wu, C. (2005). Repeat mammography screening among low-income and minority women: A qualitative study. Cancer Control, 12(Suppl. 2), 77-83.
    Gorin, S. (2005). Correlates of colorectal cancer screening compliance among urban Hispanics. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 28(2), 125-137.
    Gullatte, M. (2006). The influence of spirituality and religiosity on breast cancer screening delay in African American women: Application of the Theory of Reasoned Action and Planned Behavior (TRA/TPB). ABNF Journal, 17(2), 89-94.
    Intercultural Cancer Council. (2005). Hispanics and cancer. Online fact sheet. Retrieved June 28, 2006, from http://iccnetwork.org/cancerfacts/cfs4.htm
    Kemp, C. (2005). Mexican and Mexican Americans: Health beliefs and practices. Retrieved July 30, 2007, from http://www3.baylor.edu/~Charles_Kemp/hispanic_health.htm
    Lopez-McKee, G. (2005). The Spanish translation, cultural adaptation, and validation of the Powe Fatalism Inventory among a Mexican American population. Unpublished doctoral dissertation: University of Houston Health Science Center School of Nursing, Houston, TX.
    Lopez-McKee, G., McNeill, J., Eriksen, L., & Ortiz, M. (2007). The Spanish translation and cultural adaptation of the Powe Fatalism Inventory. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 39(1), 68-70.
    Maly, R. (2006). Family influences on breast cancer treatment among older Hispanics. Retrieved July 30, 2007, from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/35971.php
    Mayo, R., Ureda, J., & Parker, V. (2001). Importance of fatalism in understanding mammography screening in rural elderly women. Journal of Women and Aging, 13(1), 57-72.
    National Cancer Institute. (2007). Cancer trends progress report 2007: Update on breast cancer screening. Retrieved September 28, 2008, from http://progressreport.cancer.gov
    Peek, M., & Han, J. (2004). Disparities in screening mammography: Current status, interventions, and implications. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 19(2), 184-194.
    Powe, B. D. (1995). Cancer fatalism among elderly Caucasians and African Americans. Oncology Nursing Forum, 22(9), 1355-1359.
    Powe, B. D. (1997). Where there is cancer fatalism … Is there spirituality? Journal of Religion and Health, 36(2), 135-144.
    Powe, B. D. (2001). Cancer fatalism among elderly African American women: Predictors of the intensity of the perceptions. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 19(1), 85-95.
    Powe, B. D., & Finnie, R. (2003). Cancer fatalism: The state of the science. Cancer Nursing, 26(6), 454-467.
    Powe, B. D., & Weinrich, S. (1999). An intervention to decrease cancer fatalism among rural elders. Oncology Nursing Forum, 26(3), 583-588.
    Rakowski, W., Breen, N., Meissner, H., Rimer, B., Vernon, S., Clark, M., et al. (2004). Prevalence and correlates of repeat mammography among women aged 55-79 in the year 2000 National Health Interview Survey. Preventive Medicine, 39(1), 1-10.
    Ramirez, A., Suarez, L., Laufman, L., Barroso, C., & Chalela, P. (2000). Hispanic women's breast and cervical cancer knowledge, attitudes, and screening behaviors. American Journal of Health Promotion, 14(5), 292-300.
    Russell, K., Perkins, S., Zollinger, T., & Champion, V. (2006). Sociocultural context of mammography screening use. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33(1), 105-112.
    Sabogal, F., Merrill, S., & Packel, L. (2001). Mammography rescreening among older California women. Health Care Financing Review, 22(4), 63-75.
    Spurlock, W., & Cullins, L. (2006). Cancer fatalism and breast cancer screening in African American women. ABNF Journal, 17(1), 38-43.
    Straughan, P. T., & Seow, A. (1998). Fatalism reconceptualized: A concept to predict health screening behavior. Journal of Gender, Culture, and Health, 3(2), 85-100.
    U. S. Census Bureau. (2000). Report on the Hispanic population. We the people: Hispanics in the United States. Retrieved July 20, 2005, from http://www.census.gov/prod/2004/censr-18.pdf
    U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Healthy people 2010: Understanding and improving health. Washington, DC: U. S. Government Printing Office.
    U. S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002). U. S. poverty guidelines. Retrieved August 5, 2007, from http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/
    Wells, J. N., Bush, H. A., & Marshall, D. (2002). Purpose in life and breast health behavior in Hispanic and Anglo women. Journal of Holistic Nursing, 20(3), 232-249.
    Wu, T., & Bancroft, J. (2006). Filipino American women's perceptions and experiences with breast cancer screening [Online exclusive]. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33(4), E71-E78. Retrieved September 15, 2008, from http://ons.metapress.com/content/e81vt241817p2p50/fulltext.pdf http://ons.metapress.com/content/e81vt241817p2p50/fulltext.pdf