Breast Cancer Prevention Knowledge, Beliefs, and Information Sources Between Non-Hispanic and Hispanic College Women for Risk Reduction Focus

Abstract

Although growing research focuses on breast cancer screenings, little is known about breast cancer prevention with risk reduction awareness for ethnic differences among college-age women. This study examined breast cancer prevention knowledge, beliefs, and information sources between non-Hispanic and Hispanic college women. Using a cross-sectional study, women at a university in the Southwest completed a 51-item survey about breast cancer risk factors, beliefs, and media and interpersonal information sources. The study was guided by McGuire's Input Output Persuasion Model. Of the 546 participants, non-Hispanic college women (n = 277) and Hispanic college women (n = 269) reported similar basic knowledge levels of modifiable breast cancer risk factors for alcohol consumption (52 %), obesity (72 %), childbearing after age 35 (63 %), and menopausal hormone therapy (68 %) using bivariate analyses. Most common information sources were Internet (75 %), magazines (69 %), provider (76 %) and friends (61 %). Least common sources were radio (44 %), newspapers (34 %), and mothers (36 %). Non-Hispanic college women with breast cancer family history were more likely to receive information from providers, friends, and mothers. Hispanic college women with a breast cancer family history were more likely to receive information from their mothers. Breast cancer prevention education for college women is needed to include risk reduction for modifiable health behavior changes as a new focus. Health professionals may target college women with more information sources including the Internet or apps.

Breast Cancer Awareness at the Community Level among Women in Delhi, India

“…The findings indicated that the level of awareness of BC is sub-optimal among the women participants of Delhi. Our overall results are consistent with studies done in other parts of the India (Somdatta and Baridalyne, 2008;Gupta, 2009;Khokhar, 2009;Yadav and Jaroli, 2010;Shalini et al, 2011;Grosse et al, 2013;Parameshwari et al, 2013;Sathian et al, 2014;Sreedevi et al, 2014) and world (Okobia et al, 2006;Elsie et al, 2010;Forbes et al, 2011;Samganje and Mafuvadze, 2012;Radi, 2013;Karadag et al, 2014;Kratzke et al, 2014;Asif et al, 2014).…”

Factors associated with insufficient awareness of breast cancer among women in Northern and Eastern China: a case–control study

“…Less women participated in special lectures about BC (2.5%), which indicated that the efforts to publicise such events for BC were likely insufficient. A study comparing non-Hispanic and Hispanic college women revealed that the internet was the most common information resource (75%), 18 while a Spanish survey indicated that the main sources of information were TV, press, family and friends. 19 In Malaysia and Cameroon, TV was still the major resource for obtaining knowledge.…”

Understanding Decision Making about Breast Cancer Prevention in Action: The Intersection of Perceived Risk, Perceived Control, and Social Context: NRG Oncology/NSABP DMP-1

“…Finding a shared understanding of risk and the potential impact of treatment may provide a way to increase adoption of risk reduction behaviors. Studies have documented that women have greater knowledge about nonmodifiable risk factors, 37 yet simultaneously feel a sense of control over their breast cancer risk 35,38 and view breast cancer as more preventable than do providers. 31 When women apply concepts of risk to themselves, some have been found to emphasize the importance of modifiable risk factors, 39 whereas others adopt fatalistic approaches to the development of breast cancer, either of which may prevent them from participating in risk reduction.…”