Breast cancer screening practices among Chinese-Australian women

The aims of the study were to report breast cancer screening practices among Chinese-Australian women, and to examine the relationship between 1) acculturation, and 2) the Chinese Breast Cancer Screening Beliefs Questionnaire (CBCSB) score and women's breast screening behaviours.

A descriptive and cross-sectional method was used. Two hundreds and ninety-two Chinese-Australian women were recruited from a number of Chinese organizations. Both English and Chinese versions of the CBCSB Questionnaire were administered. Main research variables are breast cancer screening practices, acculturation factors and total scores on each of the CBCSB subscales.

The majority of participants (76%-90%) had heard of breast self exam (BSE), clinical breast exam (CBE) and mammograms. Only 22.1% performed a BSE monthly and only 35.4% of women within the targeted age group had a CBE annually. Three quarters of women within the targeted age group reported they had a mammogram every two years or less. No statistically significant differences in acculturation and screening behaviours were found. In terms of CBCSB score, women who had CBEs and mammograms as recommended had significantly higher scores on the Attitudes to health checkup subscale. In addition, women who engaged in BSE and mammogram as recommended perceived less barriers to mammographic screening.

Attitudes towards health check-ups and perceived barriers to mammographic screening were influential in compliance with breast cancer screening among Chinese-Australian women.