Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer in the United States (U.S.) and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths. Although the incidence of CRC has been decreasing with CRC screenings, disparities of CRC and screening prevalence exist for racial and ethnic groups. The CRC incidence rates have dramatically increased in Korean Americans, however, there is little known about their CRC screening behaviors and the factors that may predict screening behaviors have not been fully investigated. The purposes of this study were to describe CRC screening behaviors and identify the predictors and barriers influencing CRC screening behaviors among Korean Americans. A sample of 254 Korean Americans participated in this study. Correlation, Multiple logistic regression, and Chi-square were used to analyze data. In this study, Korean American had lower rates of CRC screenings compared to the general U.S. population. Only 20% of the sample had ever had a fecal occult blood Test (FOBT), 49% had ever had a colonoscopy, and 19% responded they had ever had a sigmoidoscopy in their lifetime. Korean Americans had low rates of perception of cancer screening (annual physical exam and periodic cancer screening), moderate CRC knowledge, low cancer fatalism, limited CRC literacy, lack of health care access, and a low rate of receiving the physician's recommendation of CRC screenings. The greatest predictors influencing CRC screening were perception of cancer screening for a FOBT, and the physician's recommendation for a colonoscopy and a sigmoidoscopy. There were no significant differences by gender in CRC screening behaviors. However, significant differences were found between the two groups divided by length of U.S. residence. Compared to those who have lived in the U.S.>10 years, new immigrants had lower rates of all three CRC screening, lower perception of cancer screening, higher uninsured, less receiving physician's recommendation, and higher perceived barriers to CRC screening. The findings of this study suggest that improved efforts are needed to increase CRC screenings among Korean Americans. Further research is needed to increase a physician's recommendation for CRC screenings and awareness for the importance of annual checkups and periodic cancer screening among Korean Americans.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:arizona.edu/oai:arizona.openrepository.com:10150/311699 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Ko, Moonju Lee |
| Contributors | Badger, Terry A., Badger, Terry A., McEwen, Marylyn M., Jones, Elaine G., Kim, Miyong |
| Publisher | The University of Arizona. |
| Source Sets | University of Arizona |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | text, Electronic Dissertation |
| Rights | Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. |
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