Research

Jin Hee Kim, PhD, RN, Funded Projects

Mammography Promotion Intervention for Korean American Immigrant Women

Funding Source: Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Dates: 5/1/06 – 4/30/08

Co-Investigators: Usha Menon

Abstract: Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Korean-American (KA) women, and immigrant KA women present with larger tumor size and more advanced-stage cancer than Caucasian women, implying that KA women adhere less to breast cancer screening. Immigrant KA women have higher breast cancer rates than women in their native country. Because early detection through routine screening contributes to a decrease in breast cancer mortality, the particularly low rates of adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines among minority subpopulations such as KA women is disconcerting.

Objective: The objective of this study is to develop and test a culturally relevant intervention designed specifically for low income KA immigrant women to promote mammography use.

Aims: 1. Identify predictors of stage of mammography use; 2. Assess the effect of a targeted, stage-based culturally relevant educational program called GO EARLY on mammography use among KA women; and 3. Establish an infrastructure linking low-income KA women with breast health services. Design: A sample of 300 KA women, aged 40 or older will attend stage-based educational sessions at the Korean American Senior Center , which is a community-based organization (CBO). The study will be conducted in Korean-language. Community navigators (CNs) will recruit women to the study, assist with conducting educational sessions, and follow up interviews. The CNs will assist women with obtaining a mammogram post-education and link women with diagnostic and treatment services as needed, to provide support through what may well be a difficult and confusing time. The process evaluations will be conducted to assess effect of the education and the process of working with the CBO. Study results will be disseminated to the KA community via a series of presentations at the CBO and articles in Korean newspapers.

Outcomes and Benefits: Outcomes include development of a culturally relevant breast health education program for KA women and gaining new information on predictors of mammography use among KA women. The participants will gain knowledge and information about breast health and strategies to overcome possible barriers of mammography use. The educational program will be refined based on study results for easy implementation through KA-serving CBOs in Chicago and nationally.

GO EARLY: Promoting Mammography Use Among Korean American Women

Funding Source: National Institute of Nursing Research

Dates: 9/26/06 – 7/31/08

Co-Investigators: Usha Menon, Carol Ferrans, Edward Wang

View Poster: PowerPoint File

Abstract: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among Korean-American (KA) women, and they present with larger tumor size and more advanced-stage cancer than Caucasian women. This implies that KA women adhere less to breast cancer screening, which known to promote early detection and reduce mortality. The specific goal related to breast cancer in Healthy People 2010 (HP2010) is that 70% of all women 40 years or older should have had a mammogram within the preceding 2 years: particularly low rates of mammography use among minority subpopulations such as KA women is disconcerting: 50% of KA women never had a mammogram compared to 21% of Caucasians. The specific aim of this proposed pre- and post-test experimental, two-group design study is to evaluate the effectiveness of the culturally competent stage-based, targeted breast cancer screening intervention GO EARLY, specifically designed to increase mammography use among KA immigrant women 40 years or older. The GO EARLY intervention will be a 45-minute, semi-structured, interactive session on breast cancer screening knowledge and beliefs for KA women grouped according to stages of mammography use (i.e. precontemplators, contemplators, and precontemplation or contemplation relapsers) delived in the KA church conference room. Total 214 KA women from 2 KA churches in suburban Chicago (one church as intervention and the other church as control group) will be participated. Participants will be surveyed in person, pre- and post-intervention on breast cancer and screening-related knowledge, beliefs, and stages of mammography use by trained research assistants and community facilitators. Women in the intervention group will answer a pre-intervention survey (Time 1), attend GO EARLY session, and complete post-intervention survey at 8 weeks (Time 2) and 24 weeks (Time 3). The control group women will comple Time 1 and Times 2 and 3 at the same intervals as the intervention group but will not receive GO EARLY. The effectiveness of stage-based intervention on mammography use among Caucasians and African Americans and, it is imperative that we extend such strategies to other groups of women most in need of mammography interventions. The strong theoretical framework for this study adds rigor and structure to the intervention and analysis, as well as makes it replicable in groups of KA women across the U.S.