Breast Cancer Cause Beliefs: Chinese, Korean, and Mexican American Breast Cancer Survivors

Overview

Journal West J Nurs Res

Publisher Sage Publications

Specialty Nursing

Date 2014 Jul 9

PMID 25001237

Citations 12

Authors

Patricia Gonzalez

Jung-Won Lim

Ming Wang-Letzkus

Katrina F Flores

Kristi M Allen

Sheila F Castaneda

Gregory A Talavera

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This study examined causal attribution beliefs about breast cancer and the influence that these beliefs exert on health behavior change among breast cancer survivors (BCS). Focus groups with Chinese (n = 21), Korean (n = 11), and Mexican American (n = 9) BCS recruited through community- and hospital-based support groups were conducted. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and translated into English for thematic content analysis. Three themes concerning beliefs about breast cancer cause common to all three groups included (a) stress, (b) diet, and (c) fatalism. Causal beliefs corresponded to behavioral changes with women describing efforts to improve their diet and manage their stress. Ethnic minority BCS adhere to beliefs about what caused their cancer that influence their health behaviors. Providing quality health care to ethnically diverse cancer survivors requires cultural sensitivity to patients' beliefs about the causes of their cancer and awareness of how beliefs influence patients' health behaviors post diagnosis.

Citing Articles

Breast cancer beliefs and screening behaviors among South Asian immigrant women living in the United States.

Kohler R, Dharamdasani T, Tarn J, Macenat M, M Ferrante J, Mathur S BMC Womens Health. 2025; 25(1):98.

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What do cancer survivors believe caused their cancer? A secondary analysis of cross-sectional survey data.

Galica J, Saunders S, Pan Z, Silva A, Ling H Cancer Causes Control. 2024; 35(6):875-886.

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Perceived Causes of Cancer and Corresponding Behavioral Changes: A Qualitative Study on Breast Cancer Survivors in Taiwan.

Niu J, Chen D, Lo C, Cheng S, Huang C Cancer Control. 2022; 29:10732748221132522.

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The trends of cancer patients' perceptions on the causes and risk factors of cancer over time.

Jazieh A, Alkaiyat M, Abuelgasim K, Ardah H Saudi Med J. 2022; 43(5):479-485.

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Influential factors in Black and White breast cancer survivors' beliefs about breast cancer.

Edmonds M, Dahman B, McGuire K, Sheppard V Psychooncology. 2021; 31(2):271-281.

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