Promoting early detection of breast cancer among Vietnamese-American women - Results of a controlled trial

BACKGROUND. Although breast cancer is the second most common cancer among Vietnamese-American women, previous research has shown that they are less likely to have ever had, and to be more often overdue for, clinical breast examinations (CBE) and mammograms than women in the general population. METHODS. Over a 2.5-year period, the following intervention activities were targeted at both Vietnamese women and physicians in Alameda County, California: neighborhood-based educational activities; dissemination of health education materials; a media campaign; and continuing medical education seminars for physicians. Women in Los Angeles and Orange Counties served as controls. Preintervention telephone interviews were conducted with 384 randomly selected Vietnamese women in the intervention community and 404 women in the control community in 1996, and post-test intervention interviews were conducted with 405 and 402 women, respectively, in 1998. RESULTS. Multiple logistic regression analyses of postintervention surveys showed the intervention community women at posttest were no more likely to recognize, receive, plan, or be up-to-date for CBE or mammograms than women in the control community. However, women who reported greater exposure to the various intervention elements were significantly more likely to have heard of, have had, and to plan CBE and mammograms than women with less exposure. CONCLUSIONS. Although the effect on the women in the intervention group was not significant, the intervention did have a modest positive impact on women who had more exposure to it. Cancer 2001;91:267-73. (C) 2001 America Cancer Society.