The primary care physician and cancer literacy: Reducing health disparities in an immigrant population

Objective: To evaluate the level of cancer literacy among Korean American immigrants and to identify the most influential predictors of cancer literacy in this population. Method: Using a quota-sampling strategy, 407 Korean American immigrants were recruited in the New York metropolitan area. The study was theoretically guided by the Andersen's Health Behaviour Model and ordinary least squares regression analysis was used for data analyses. Results: The cancer literacy level of this Korean American immigrant sample was much lower than that reported in studies of non-Latino whites and other racial/ethnic minorities. The results from the multiple regression models indicated that age was the only predictor of cancer literacy among predisposing factors. As for enabling factors, educational attainment and having a primary care physician were significant predictors. No need factors were found to be significant predictors in this study. Discussion/implications: The findings reinforce a need for developing public health education and community interventions focused on Korean American immigrants and increasing cultural competence in healthcare professionals and partners.