Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research

Southern California Conferences for Undergraduate Research

Influence of Knowledge and Attitude Towards Intention on Pap Testing Among Pacific Islander Women

Authors:

Laura Dandridge, Jasmine Deguzman Lacsamana, Pete Flores, Perci Flores, Angel Lin, Genesis Lutu, Lourdes Quitugua, Lola Sablan Santos, Dorothy Schmidt-Vaivao, Peniamina Taito, Lourdes Tuliau, Marina Tupua, Elenoa Mé Vaikona, 'Isi Vunileva

Mentors:

  • Sora Park Tanjasiri, Professor of Health Science, California State University Fullerton
  • Jie Weiss, Professor of Health Science, California State University Fullerton
  • Michele Moutapa, Assistant Professor of Health Science, California State University Fullerton

Cervical cancer screening rates are lowest among Pacific Islander (PI) women; consequently, cancer is the leading cause of death for PI communities. Approximately 874,414 PI live in the US, the largest population (110,409) residing in Southern California. The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between knowledge, attitudes, and intention towards cervical cancer control among Pacific Islander women. This study utilizes the Community Based Participatory Research (CBPR) approach in collaboration with Tongan, Samoan, and Chamorro community-based organizations. Currently, 289 PI women have been recruited from churches and social groups in Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Counties and randomly assigned into intervention/control groups as part of a larger 5 year study. Eligible PI women (18-65 years old and married or in a long-term relationship) were administered a questionnaire surveying knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs towards cervical cancer control by Community Health Educators before and after an educational intervention workshop. Baseline surveys have been preliminarily analyzed using t-tests and Chi-square. There were 37.0% Samoan, 31.1% Tongan, 16.3% Chamorro, and 18.3% other PI groups. Analysis show women intending to get a Pap test had a higher attitude score compared to women not intending to get a Pap test (p ≤ 0.1, p = 0.092). Women who intended to get a Pap test, compared to women not intending to get a Pap test, had no significant difference in knowledge score however the overall knowledge scores were low (48.48% and 48.38% respectively). These findings support that not only cervical cancer education is needed in PI communities, but especially education which leads to more positive attitudes toward cervical cancer control. Because the study will conclude in 2015, further analysis will evaluate the relationship of PI women’s knowledge and intention towards cervical cancer control.


Presented by:

Laura Dandridge

Date:

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Time:

2:00 PM — 2:15 PM

Room:

Bell Tower 2684

Presentation Type:

Oral Presentation

Discipline:

Biology
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