Abstract
Cultural beliefs have been hypothesized to be powerful barriers to breast cancer screening in minority women and physician recommendation is consistently reported to be the strongest incentive. This study investigated (1) beliefs regarding breast cancer and (2) the perception of barriers to mammography and clinical breast examination in a sample of immigrant Tamil women, as well as in a sample of primary care physicians. Three focus groups, each consisting of 10 immigrant Tamil women from Sri Lanka aged 50 years or over were conducted and 52 primary care physicians who serve this population completed mailed surveys. The most common barriers to screening reported by the women were (1) lack of understanding of the role of early detection in medical care, (2) religious beliefs and, (3) fear of social stigmatization. Physicians reported the most common barriers to their screening recommendations for this group of women to be (1) women's episodic care, (2) unrelated presenting problems and, (3) women refusing to be screened. Interventions to increase screening in this and other minority groups requires an elaborated understanding of utilization barriers for both women and their doctors.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
ArnsbergerWebber P, Fox P, Zhang X, Pond M: An examination of differential follow-up rates in breast cancer screening. J Community Health 1996; 21(2):123–132
Bain R, Greenberg R, Whitaker J: Racial differences in survival of women with breast cancer. J Chronic Diseases 1986; 39(8):631–42
Caplan LS, Wells BL, Haynes S: Breast cancer screening among older racial/ethnic minorities and Whites: Barriers to early detection. J Gerontol 1992; 47:101–110
Fox SA, Roetzheim RG: Screening mammography and older Hispanic women. Cancer, Supplement October 1. 1994; 74(7): 2028–2033
Miller AM, Champion VL: Attitudes about breast cancer and mammography: Racial, income, and educational differences. Women & Health 1997; 26(1):41–63
Stein JA, Fox SA, Murata PJ: The influence of ethnicity, socioeconomic status and psychological barriers on use of mammography. J Health Soc Behav 1991; 32:101–113
Zavertnik, J. Strategies for reaching poor blacks and Hispanics in Dade County, Florida. Cancer Supplement. 1993; 72:1088–92
Duncan L, Simmons M: Health practices among Russian and Ukrainian immigrants, J Community Health Nurs 1996; 13(2):129–137
Hoare T: Breast screening and ethnic minorities. Br J Cancer. 1994; 74 (Suppl XXIX):S38-S41
Vernon SW, Laville EA, Jackson GL: Participation in breast screening programs: A review. Soc Sci Med 1990; 30:1107–18
Bakemeier RF, Krebs LU, Murphy JR, Shen Z, Ryals T: Attitudes of Colorado health professionals toward breast and cervical cancer screening in Hispanic women. J Natl Cancer Inst Mon 1995; 18:95–100
Friedman LC, Webb JA, Weinberg AD, Lane M, Cooper HP, Woodruff A: Breast cancer screening: Racial/ethnic differences in behaviors and beliefs. J Cancer Ed 1995; 10:213–216
Fuller SM, McDermott RJ, Roetzheim RG, Marty PJ: Breast cancer beliefs of women participating in a television-promoted mammography screening project. Public Health Reports 1992; 107(6):682–690
Pearlman DN, Rakowski W, Ehrich B, Clark MA: Breast cancer screening practices among Black, Hispanic, and White women: Reassessing differences.AmJ PrevMed1996; 12:327–37
Fox SA, Stein JA: The effect of physician-patient communication on mammography utilization by different ethnic groups. Med Care 1991; 29:1065–1082
Parkin DM, Pisani P, Ferlay J: Global Cancer Statistics. CA Cancer J Clin 1999; 49:33–64
Dillman DA: Mail and Telephone Surveys. New York: John Wiley & Sons 1978
Tessaro I, Eng E, Smith J: Breast cancer screening in older African-AmericanWomen: Qualitative research findings. Am J Health Prom 1994; 8(4):286–293
Zapka JG, Stoddard AM, Costanza ME, et al. Breast cancer screening by mammography: Utilization and associated factors. Am J Pub Health 1989; 79:1499
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Meana, M., Bunston, T., George, U. et al. Older Immigrant Tamil Women and Their Doctors: Attitudes Toward Breast Cancer Screening. Journal of Immigrant Health 3, 5–13 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026654317094
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026654317094