Breast and cervical cancer screening practices and inventions among Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans

Abstract

Purpose/objectives: To review research on breast and cervical cancer screening practices among Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese Americans.

Data sources: MEDLINE and the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature databases.

Data synthesis: Of the 28 studies reviewed, 19 (68%) were descriptive and 9 (32%) were interventions. Instruments were developed or translated into the native language. Inconsistent operational definitions for positive facilitators and negative barriers made comparisons across studies difficult.

Conclusions: Research about breast and cervical cancer screening is limited in these groups. All of the studies reviewed indicated low adherence to cancer screening guidelines. Some interventions showed promising results. Poor awareness about cancer was reported; positive facilitators and negative barriers were identified.

Implications for nursing: The rapidly increasing number of Asian Americans in the United States underscores the need for further research in this area. Future studies should focus on each population as a disaggregated subgroup. Cancer control interventions should be culturally competent.