Effects of social support, regular physician and health-related attitudes on cervical cancer screening in an Asian population.
Cancer Causes Control
; 11(3): 223-30, 2000 Mar.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10782656
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE:
Out primary objective was to examine sociodemographic and attitudinal factors that affect uptake of the Pap smear in a multi-ethnic Asian population.METHODS:
We conducted a prevalence survey among women aged 50-64 years living in Singapore and ascertained by means of an in-person questionnaire interview their Pap screening history, demographic characteristics, informal social support and attitudes towards early detection.RESULTS:
We found that, after adjusting for demographic variables known to be predictors of Pap screening, women who reported ever having a Pap smear were more likely to have close friends with whom they could discuss health (adjusted odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.2-3.6), and have a regular physician (adjusted OR 2.3 (1.3-4.1)). Based on responses to four indices measuring health attitudes, they were significantly less likely to express a fatalistic viewpoint towards health and illness (adjusted OR for highest vs. lowest tertile 0.3 (95% CI 0.1-0.7)), and more likely to believe that early detection could improve the outcome (adjusted OR 3.3 (95% CI 1.4-7.8)). The nature of the test itself was a significant barrier to having a Pap smear, but only among women with fewer years of education.CONCLUSIONS:
Our results suggest that, within this Asian population, a multi-pronged approach is required to reach unscreened women. The role of physicians and close friends should be emphasized, and health messages should be formulated to address specific, relevant attitudinal barriers to Pap screening.
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Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Support
/
Vaginal Smears
/
Attitude to Health
/
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms
/
Asian People
/
Papanicolaou Test
/
Health Promotion
Type of study:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
/
Screening_studies
Aspects:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
Limits:
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
En
Journal:
Cancer Causes Control
Journal subject:
EPIDEMIOLOGIA
/
NEOPLASIAS
Year:
2000
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Singapore