Perceptions, Beliefs, and Experiences of Asians and Micronesian Islanders on Family Health History Genetic Cancer Screening Community Outreach.

Cancer carries stigma, taboos, and shame including, for diverse communities, who can have difficulty understanding and communicating about family health history genetic cancer screening (GCS). The Oregon Health Authority ScreenWise Program reached out to our academic-community research team to explore Asians and Micronesian Islanders (MI) perceptions on public health education outreach on GCS due to having previously only worked with the Latinx community. The purpose of the qualitative description pilot study was to elicit perceptions, beliefs, experiences, and recommendations from Asian and MI community leaders and community members regarding family health history GCS outreach in communities. Twenty Asians (Chinese and Vietnamese) and Micronesian Islanders (Chuukese and Marshallese) were recruited from the US Pacific Northwest. Nineteen participants are immigrants with an average 21.4 and 18.5 years having lived in the USA, respectively. Individual in-depth interviews were conducted using a semi-structured, open-ended interview guide and analyzed using conventional content analysis. Three main transcultural themes were identified: (1) degree of knowing and understanding cancer screening versus family health history GCS, (2) needing culturally relevant outreach messaging on family health history GCS, and (3) communication and decision-making regarding discussing with family and health care providers about cancer screening and GCS. Culturally relevant messaging rather than generic messaging is needed for inclusive outreach. Healthcare providers are encouraged to assess a client's family health history routinely because Asian and MI clients may not understand the information requested, may be hesitant to offer, or unable to provide information about their personal or family history of cancer.

Vietnamese American Women's Beliefs and Perceptions About Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Screening: A Community-Based Participatory Study.

INTRODUCTION: Although breast cancer (BC) rates are declining in White non-Hispanic American women, they are increasing among Vietnamese American women (VAW) at 1.2% (95% confidence interval [0.1, 2.2]) per year. BC screening rates (64%) are below the national rates (81.1%). This article explores VAW's beliefs about BC and screening. METHOD: Using community-based participatory qualitative descriptive methods, 40 VAW were recruited from Oregon, and four focus groups were conducted. A directed content analysis was used. RESULTS: Main themes were as follows: deferred to a health care provider or relying on self-detection and symptoms; fear of BC versus fear of procedural pain; limited knowledge; motivation by observing others' journey in BC death or survivorship; body image concern; "living carefree," "good fortune-having good health"; and coverage for a mammogram expense means health care access. DISCUSSION: Tailored interventions should address mammogram knowledge, fear, erroneous information, body image, fate and luck, and promoting access.

Health Care Providers' Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators to Cervical Cancer Screening in Vietnamese American Women.

INTRODUCTION: Vietnamese American women (VAW) are diagnosed and die at twice the rate than White non-Hispanic American women (16.8/100,000 vs. 8.1/100,000 and 4.4/100,000 vs. 2.4/100,000, respectively). Despite efforts to increase cervical cancer (CC) screening among VAW, the participation rates are persistently low (69% to 81%). The purpose of this study was to explore health care providers' (HCPs) perspectives on barriers and facilitators to CC screening in VAW. METHOD: This qualitative descriptive pilot study, used open-ended semistructured interviews with 10 HCPs. RESULTS: The HCPs had two to 23 years treating VAW. Major barriers and facilitators identified by the HCPs were as follows: VAW's decision making about CC screening; sexual health divide; language discordance, relying on interpreters; breaking suspicion; VAW's exposure to health sources of CC screening; sustainable trust; and motivated health care practices. DISCUSSION: HCPs perceived the reasons for VAW not being screened or delaying CC screening were due to their lack of knowledge, cultural barriers, language, and issues related to trust.