Language differences in interpretation of breast cancer health messages

Little is known about how women interpret terminology used in breast cancer messages. The authors assessed the understanding of common cancer terms and whether understanding differed by language of interview.

In interviews, low-income women 50 years old or older were asked open-ended questions about the meanings of specific terms and phrases in commonly used health messages.

Of 232 completed interviews, 167 were conducted in English and 65 in Spanish. Both English- and Spanish-speaking women poorly understood the terms "risk factors," "at risk," and "cancer." Spanish speakers were less likely to provide technical definitions of "diagnosed" and "mammogram" and had different interpretations of several cancer terms compared with English speakers.

Cancer terms mean different things to English and Spanish speakers. Client education could be vastly improved if these cultural differences in interpretation were addressed.