J Korean Acad Nurs.  2004 Apr;34(2):307-314.

A Comparative Study of Korean and Korean-American Women in Their Health Beliefs related to Breast Cancer and the Performance of Breast Self-Examination

• Lee YW
• Lee EH
• Shin KB
• Song MS

Abstract

PURPOSE
This cross-sectional survey was undertaken to examine the differences of BSE (breast-self examination) performance and health beliefs between Korean and Korean-American women and to identify which factors influence the BSE based on the HBM variables. METHOD: The study subjects were recruited from both Korea(189 women) and Cleveland in Ohio, USA(146 women). The HBM variables were measured using a reliable and valid Health Belief Model Scale. The subjects were also asked whether or not they did a BSE in the last year. RESULT: The Korean-American women who performed the BSE was statistically higher than that of Korean women. Regarding to the BSE-related health belief, the scores of benefits, confidence, and health motivation was significantly higher in Korean-American. After controlling for living places, age, education, and job, barriers and confidence variables significantly explained the BSE performance of Korean and Korean-American women. CONCLUSION: There was a differences in BSE-related health belief and performance between Korean and Korean-American women. Among health belief variables, barriers and confidence were core variables predicting the BSE performance of Korean and Korean-American women together.

Keyword

Breast Cancer; Health Belief; Breast-Self Examination

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Asian Americans/*psychology
Attitude to Health/*ethnology
Breast Neoplasms/*psychology
Breast Self-Examination/*psychology
Female
Humans
Korea/ethnology
Middle Aged