Sources of Breast and Cervical Cancer Information for Hmong Women and Men

Abstract

Despite low breast and cervical cancer screening levels among Hmong women in the United States reported in the literature, understanding of the barriers to screening for Hmong women is limited. Health literacy issues may influence screening behavior for this population. This qualitative study explored sources of information about breast and cervical cancer, including screening, and identified barriers to seeking such information for Hmong women and men. Researchers conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 84 Hmong women and men living in Oregon. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. Transcripts of 83 usable interviews were analyzed using content analysis. Health care providers and the Internet were the most frequently cited sources of information about breast and cervical cancer, including screening. Other sources were family, friends, and other media. Over half of the participants indicated that nothing would prevent them from seeking information about these topics. These findings suggested that health care providers and the Internet may be important sources of information about breast and cervical cancer screening for Hmong women. Additional research is needed to examine further Hmong women's health literacy needs and preferences with regards to breast and cervical cancer screening.

Keywords:

• Asian
• Hmong
• sources of information
• breast cancer
• cervical cancer

Acknowledgments

Karen Levy Keon and Jennifer Kue were previously with Oregon State University.

The project described was supported by Award Number R21CA139147 from the National Cancer Institute. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Cancer Institute or the National Institutes of Health. The authors are extremely thankful for the support and guidance of the project's Community Advisory Committee. They are also grateful to Dr. Ann Zukoski for her contributions to the conceptualization and design of the study and her advice during implementation. They also thank the field staff for their assistance with recruitment and data collection and the participants for sharing their perceptions and experiences.