Factors associated with the use of breast and cervical cancer screening services among Chinese women in Hong Kong

Abstract

We conducted a cross-sectional survey using a self-administered questionnaire among attendees of a well women clinic in Hong Kong during June and July 1998. The study aimed to examine the factors associated with the past and future use of screening services among Chinese women in Hong Kong and their perception of service providers. Of the 430 respondents (64% response rate), 87% were aged 31-50 y, 85% married, 93% attained education to upper secondary school level, and 96% were non-smokers. Nearly all respondents (99%) reported having sexual experience and most of them (87%) had such experience with only one partner; 59% reported having a pap-smear test, 28% a mammogram and 44% a breast self-examination. Women who were health conscious (ate a lower fat diet and performed regular exercise) were more likely to have used the screening service (mammogram and pap-smear test) and performed breast self-examination. Staff manner, privacy and cost were the most common contributing factors for respondent's desire for future use of the screening service. Respondents showed a preference for doctors (70%) over nurses (30%), and females (80%) over males (20%) as their service providers. The findings suggest the need to disseminate appropriate information on screening services among the public to dispel misconceptions about the preference for doctors over nurses and females over males. Improving clinician- and other staff-patient communication would be important for breast and cervical screening programs in Hong Kong.

The influence of knowledge and perception of the risk of cervical cancer on screening behavior in mainland Chinese women

“…Consistent with Abdullah and Leung's study [20], the present study also found that a positive perception of health behaviors (e.g., a balanced diet and visiting a doctor regularly) was associated with previous screening experience. This indicated that respondents with past screening experience are more likely to come for screening because of their cultural family obligations and personal health beliefs and practices.…”

Examining the Cervical Screening Behaviour of Women Aged 50 or above and Its Predicting Factors: A Population-Based Survey

“…Health consciousness has been suggested as a key component of screening behaviour [13,29,30]. In this study there is a higher screening rate among respondents who have a family history of cancer and those of a higher education level.…”

Using a Community‐Based Outreach Program to Improve Breast Health Awareness Among Women in Hong Kong

“…The findings of this study have provided important data about the status of breast health awareness of women in Hong Kong. About half of the women we reached were aware of breast health, diseases, BSE, (Abdullah & Leung, 2001;Chua et al, 2005), and studies in the region, such as those in Taiwan and Malaysia (Chee et al, 2003;Lu, 2001 (Health Canada, 2003). Although Hong Kong has no standard guidelines to recommend routine mammography screening to asymptomatic women at the population level (the risk of breast cancer is lower in Hong Kong compared with western populations), a recent report from the Hong Kong Department of Health, Centre for Health Protection (2004) encouraged all women in the general population to be ''breast aware,'' to be alert to the early signs and symptoms of breast cancer, and to seek medical attention as soon as possible so as to reduce the interval between diagnosis and treatment to a minimum.…”