Care‐seeking behavior with breast cancer symptoms in caucasian and african‐american women

Abstract

Based on a theory of care seeking, the influences of psychosocial variables (anxiety, utility beliefs, norm, and habit) and facilitators (e.g., an identified practitioner) on care-seeking behavior with a breast cancer symptom were examined. Also, the influences of variables not identified by the theory (e.g., optimism and race) on care-seeking behavior were examined. Participants were Caucasian (n = 64) and African-American women (n = 71) with breast symptoms. Care seeking was measured by the days between symptom detection and contact with the health system. Habit was associated with promptness, utility beliefs were associated with delay, and anxiety interacted with having an identified practitioner to explain care seeking. Optimism and having a friend with a breast symptom also were associated with promptness. Race had neither direct nor interactive effects on care seeking.

Research institute for nurse scientists responds to the challenge to expand and strengthen research focused on breast cancer in African American women

“…2 The studies included in the review that focused on breast cancer screening and early detection among African American women tended to involve diverse groups of African American women. [23][24][25][26][27][28][29][30][31][32][33][34] The greater majority of the studies involved conveniently selected groups of women presumed to be at average risk. Several involved women who varied by education, occupation, economic status, and access to care.…”

Toward an Understanding of Health Care Delay Among Ethnic Minorities: Examining Health Care Behaviors Among Military Young-Adult Males

“…It is critical that delay in health care seeking be examined among ethnic minorities, some delay in these groups may be related to data showing that African Americans and Hispanics are disproportionately at higher risk for developing several diseases (Brown & Kahn, 1998;Suarez & Ramirez, 1999 It has been well documented that ethnic minorities seek care later than their Caucasian counterparts (Bailey, 1987;Ell, Haywood, Sobel, deGuzman, Blumfield, & Ning, 1994;Lauver, 1994). Many minority groups typically lack a primary care provider and usually utilize hospital emergency room departments for their health complaints (Davis et al, 1995;Weaver & Gary, 1996).…”

“…Hispanics delay seeking care (Bailey, 1987;Ell et al, 1994;Lauver, 1994). The importance of timely access to care is of paramount interest in reducing the burden of diseases in these groups.…”

A model for explaining differences in incontinence care seeking (MEDICS) project.

“…Symptom severity is positively correlated with care seeking for incontinence. [Roberts 1998, Jacobsen 1995, Burgio 1991& 1994, Holst 1988, Roe 1999, Sandvik 1993, Lagace 1993, Rekers 1992 Roberts found that moderate to severe incontinence was associated with having seen a physician for urinary symptoms in the previous year for men (OR 10.5,95%C1 5.6,19.8) and women (OR 3.8, 95%CI 2.1,6.7).…”

“…Anxiety interacted with having identified a health practitioner to explain care seeking for women with breast cancer symptoms [Lauver 1994]. For women without a practitioner, higher anxiety was associated with less delay.…”