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The Role of Health Literacy in Reducing Negative Perceptions of Breast Health and Treatment Among Uninsured Primary Care Patients

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Abstract

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. There are disparities in breast cancer mortality by race/ethnicity and socio-economic factors. Health literacy may have an impact on breast health disparities. In addition, learning about people’s perceptions of breast health and treatment is important to understand why some do not seek a mammogram or treatment for breast cancer. The purpose of this study is to examine the association between health literacy and negative perceptions of breast health and treatment among female uninsured primary care patients utilizing a free clinic for underserved populations. Women utilizing a free clinic who were aged 40 years or older (N = 276) participated in a self-administered survey from September to December in 2015. Higher levels of health literacy were associated with lower levels of negative perceptions of breast cancer and treatment. Non-US born English speakers reported higher levels of negative perceptions of breast cancer and treatment than US born English speakers and Spanish speakers. While there were no significant differences in health literacy among the groups, US born English speakers were less likely to have had a mammogram in the past 3 years compared with non-US born English speakers and Spanish speakers. Future research should consider where women are obtaining information and how the method of exposure shapes their attitudes towards breast health and in turn, their rates of examinations for breast cancer. Cultural factors may be also important determinants of the perceptions and need to be further examined.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Community-Based Research Grant, the University of Utah. The authors want to thank the patients who participated in this study and acknowledge the contribution of the staff and volunteers of the Maliheh Free Clinic. In addition, we thank Jerry Bounsanga, Kendall Crane, Travis Dixon, Sarah Hardman, Kindrick Hector, Shirley Luo, Ka’arunya Prasad, Danielle Searle, Tamara Stephens, Mary Stoddard, Jennifer Tabler, Jessica Truong, Madison Walters, Xueyou Wang, and Lindsey Wright for their help in data collection, data entry or translation related to this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Sociology, University of Utah, 380 S 1530 E, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA

    Akiko Kamimura, Alla Chernenko & Guadalupe Aguilera

  2. School of Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Maziar M. Nourian

  3. Health, Society and Policy, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Nushean Assasnik

  4. Maliheh Free Clinic, Salt Lake City, UT, USA

    Jeanie Ashby

Authors
  1. Akiko Kamimura
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  2. Alla Chernenko
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  3. Maziar M. Nourian
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  4. Guadalupe Aguilera
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  5. Nushean Assasnik
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  6. Jeanie Ashby
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Correspondence to Akiko Kamimura.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Human Participants Protection

The University of Utah Institutional Review Board (IRB) approved this study.

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Kamimura, A., Chernenko, A., Nourian, M.M. et al. The Role of Health Literacy in Reducing Negative Perceptions of Breast Health and Treatment Among Uninsured Primary Care Patients. J Community Health 41, 858–863 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0164-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10900-016-0164-z

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