The use of sociocultural constructs in cancer screening research among African Americans

Anjali D Deshpande, Vetta L Sanders Thompson, Kimberlee P Vaughn, Matthew W Kreuter, Anjali D Deshpande, Vetta L Sanders Thompson, Kimberlee P Vaughn, Matthew W Kreuter

Abstract

Background: Studies are increasingly examining the role of sociocultural values, beliefs, and attitudes in cancer prevention. However, these studies vary widely in how sociocultural constructs are defined and measured, how they are conceived as affecting cancer beliefs, behaviors, and screening, and how they are applied in interventions.

Methods: To characterize the current state of this research literature, we conducted a critical review of studies published between 1990 and 2006 to describe the current use of sociocultural constructs in cancer screening research among African Americans. We included quantitative and qualitative studies with cancer as a primary focus that included African American participants, assessed screening behaviors, reported race-specific analyses, and considered one or more sociocultural factors. Studies were evaluated for type of cancer and screening analyzed, study population, methodology, sociocultural constructs considered, definitions of constructs, provision of psychometric data for measures, and journal characteristics.

Results: Of 94 studies identified for review, 35 met the inclusion criteria and were evaluated. Most focused on breast cancer screening, and thus African American women. Sociocultural constructs were seldom clearly defined, and the sources and psychometric properties of sociocultural measures were rarely reported.

Conclusions: A multidisciplinary approach to developing a common language and a standardized set of measures for sociocultural constructs will advance research in this area. Specific recommendations are made for future research.

References

    1. Jemal A, Clegg LX, Ward E, et al. Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2001, with a special feature regarding survival. Cancer. 2004;101(1):3–27.
    1. Brawley OW. Introduction: Cancer and health disparities. Cancer Metastasis Rev. 2003;22(1):7–9.
    1. Ward E, Jemal A, Cokkinides V, et al. Cancer disparities by race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status. CA Cancer J Clin. 2004;54(2):78–93.
    1. Baquet CR, Commiskey P. Socioeconomic factors and breast carcinoma in multicultural women. Cancer. 2000;88(5 suppl):1256–1264.
    1. Lannin DR, Mathews HF, Mitchell J, et al. Influence of socioeconomic and cultural factors on racial differences in late-stage presentation of breast cancer. JAMA. 1998;279(22):1801–1807.
    1. Mustard CA, Etches J. Gender differences in socioeconomic inequality in mortality. J Epidemiol Community Health. 2003;57(12):974–980.
    1. Newman LA, Manson J, Cote D, et al. African-American ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and breast cancer survival: a meta-analysis of 14 studies involving over 10,000 African-American and 40,000 white American patients with carcinoma of the breast. Cancer. 2002;94(11):2844–2854.
    1. Cooper GS, Koroukian SM. Racial disparities in the use of and indications for colorectal procedures in Medicare beneficiaries. Cancer. 2004;100(2):418–424.
    1. Lannin DR, Mathews HF, Mitchell J, et al. Impacting cultural attitudes in African-American women to decrease breast cancer mortality. Am J Surg. 2002;184(5):418–423.
    1. Meyerowitz BE, Richardson J, Hudson S, et al. Ethnicity and cancer outcomes: behavioral and psychosocial considerations. Psychol Bulletin. 1998;123(1):47–70.
    1. Brach C, Fraser I. Can cultural competency reduce racial and ethnic health disparities? A review and conceptual model. Med Care Res Rev. 2000;57(suppl 1):181–217.
    1. Lewis-Fernández R, Diaz N. The cultural formulation: a method for assessing cultural factors affecting the clinical encounter. Psychiatr Q. 2002;73(4):271–295.
    1. Betancourt H, Lopez S. The study of culture, ethnicity, and race in American Psychology. In: Peplau LA, Taylor SE, editors. Sociocultural Perspectives in Social Psychology: Current Readings. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1997.
    1. Hernandez LM, Blazer DG, editors. Genes, Behavior, and the Social Environment: Moving Beyond the Nature/Nurture Debate. Institute of Medicine Committee on Assessing Interactions among Social, Behavioral, and Genetic Factors on Health; Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2006.
    1. Peplau LA, Taylor SE, editors. Sociocultural Perspectives in Social Psychology: Current Readings. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall; 1997. p. viii.
    1. Smith PB, Bond MH, Smith PB, Bond MH, editors. Social Psychology Across Cultures. 2. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon; 1999. Culture: the neglected concept.
    1. Nagayama Hall GC. Editorial. Cultur Divers Ethnic Minor Psychol. 2004;10(1):3–4.
    1. Triandis HC, Bontempo R, Betancourt H, et al. The measurement of the etic aspects of individualism and collectivism across cultures. Aust J Psychol. 1986;38(3):257–267.
    1. Allport GW, Ross JM. Personal religious orientation and prejudice. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1967;5(4):432–443.
    1. Leshan LL. Time orientation and social class. J Abnorm Psychol. 1952;47(3):589–592.
    1. Aronson DR. Ethnicity as a cultural system. In: Henry F, editor. Ethnicity in the Americas. The Hague, The Netherlands: Mouton Publishers; 1976.
    1. Berry JW. Acculturation as varieties of acculturation. In: Padilla AM, editor. Acculturation: Theory, Models and Some New Findings. Boulder, CO: Westview Press; 1980.
    1. Terrell F, Terrell SL. An inventory to measure cultural mistrust among blacks. West J Black Stud. 1981;5:180–185.
    1. James SA, Hartnett SA, Kalsbeek WD. John Henryism and blood pressure differences among black men. J Behav Med. 1983;6(3):259–278.
    1. Guidry JJ, Matthews-Juarez P, Copeland VA. Barriers to breast cancer control for African-American women: the interdependence of culture and psychosocial issues. Cancer. 2003;97(1 suppl):318–323.
    1. Holt CL, Lukwago SN, Kreuter MW. Spirituality, breast cancer beliefs and mammography utilization among urban African American women. J Health Psychol. 2003;8(3):383–396.
    1. Holt CL, Clark EM, Kreuter MW, et al. Spiritual health locus of control and breast cancer beliefs among urban African American women. Health Psychol. 2003;22(3):294–299.
    1. Kreuter MW, Steger-May K, Bobra S, et al. Sociocultural characteristics and responses to cancer education materials among African American women. Cancer Control. 2003;10(5 suppl):69–80.
    1. Lukwago SN, Kreuter MW, Holt CL, et al. Sociocultural correlates of breast cancer knowledge and screening in urban African American women. Am J Public Health. 2003;93(8):1271–1274.
    1. Mattis JS. African American women’s definitions of spirituality and religiosity. J Black Psychol. 2000;26(1):101–122.
    1. Chatters LM, Taylor RJ, Lincoln KD. African American religious participation: a multi-sample comparison. J Sci Study Relig. 1999;38(1):132–145.
    1. Ferraro KF, Koch JR. Religion and health among Black and White adults: examining social support and consolation. J Sci Study Relig. 1994;33(4):362–375.
    1. Levin JS. Religious research in gerontology, 1980–1994: a systematic review. J Relig Gerontol. 1997;10(3):3–31.
    1. Levin JS, Taylor RJ. Gender and age differences in religiosity among black Americans. Gerontologist. 1993;33(1):16–23.
    1. Klonoff EA, Landrine H. Belief in the healing power of prayer: prevalence and health correlates for African Americans. Western J Black Stud. 1996;20(4):207–210.
    1. Triandis HC, editor. Culture and Social Behavior. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill, Inc; 1994.
    1. Jagers RJ, Mock LO. The communalism scale and collectivistic-individualistic tendencies: some preliminary findings. J Black Psychol. 1995;21 (2):153–167.
    1. Landrine H, Klonoff E. The African-American acculturation scale: origin and current status. In: Jones RL, editor. Handbook of Tests and Measurements for Black Populations. Hampton, VA: Cobb & Henry Publishers; 1996.
    1. Baldwin JA, Hopkins R. African-American and European-American cultural differences as assessed by the worldviews paradigm: an empirical analysis. West J Black Stud. 1990;14(1):38–52.
    1. Asante M. The Theory of Social Change. Buffalo, NY: Amulefi Publishing Co; 1980.
    1. Grills C, Longshore D. Africentrism: psychometric analyses of a self-report measure. J Black Psychol. 1996;22(2):86–106.
    1. Sellers RM, Smith MA, Shelton JN, et al. Multidimensional model of racial identity: a reconceptualization of African American racial identity. Pers Soc Psychol Rev. 1998;2(1):18–39.
    1. Thompson VL. Variables affecting racial-identity salience among African Americans. J Soc Psychol. 1999;139(6):748–761.
    1. Mechanic D. Changing medical organization and the erosion of trust. Milbank Q. 1996;74(2):171–189.
    1. LaVeist TA, Nickerson KJ, Bowie JV. Attitudes about racism, medical mistrust, and satisfaction with care among African American and white cardiac patients. Med Care Res Rev. 2000;57(suppl 1):146–161.
    1. Ridley CR. Clinical treatment of the nondisclosing black client. A therapeutic paradox. Am Psychol. 1984;39(11):1234–1244.
    1. Davis IJ, Brown CP, Allen F, et al. African-American myths and health care: the sociocultural theory. J Natl Med Assoc. 1995;87(11):791–794.
    1. McCarthy CR. Historical background of clinical trials involving women and minorities. Acad Med. 1994;69(9):695–698.
    1. Powe BD. Fatalism among elderly African Americans: effects on colorectal cancer screening. Cancer Nurs. 1995;18(5):385–392.
    1. Powe BD. Cancer fatalism among elderly Caucasians and African Americans. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1995;22(9):1355–1359.
    1. Mayo RM, Ureda JR, Parker VG. Importance of fatalism in understanding mammography screening in rural elderly women. J Women Aging. 2001;13(1):57–72.
    1. Graham R. The role of perception of time in consumer research. J Consum Res. 1981;7(4):335–342.
    1. Brown CM, Segal R. Ethnic differences in temporal orientation and its implications for hypertension management. J Health Soc Behav. 1996;37(4):350–361.
    1. Kreuter MW, Sugg-Skinner C, Holt CL, et al. Cultural tailoring for mammography and fruit and vegetable intake among low-income African-American women in urban public health centers. Prev Med. 2005;41(1):53–62. Epub 2004 Nov 26.
    1. Social Science. Journal Citation Reports®. Philadelphia, PA: Thomson Scientific; 2005.
    1. Bowen D, Hickman KM, Powers D. Importance of psychological variables in understanding risk perceptions and breast cancer screening of African American women. Womens Health. 1997;3(3–4):227–242.
    1. Conrad ME, Brown P, Conrad MG. Fatalism and breast cancer in black women. Ann Intern Med. 1996;125(11):941–942.
    1. Edwards QT, Johnson CG, Mason S, et al. Differentiation of the health behavior patterns related to prostate cancer screening among African-American men in military settings. Mil Med. 2002;167(5):374–378.
    1. Erwin DO, Spatz TS, Stotts RC, et al. Increasing mammography practice by African American women. Cancer Pract. 1999;7(2):78–85.
    1. Fearing A, Bell D, Newton M, et al. Prostate screening health beliefs and practices of African American men. ABNF J. 2000;11(6):141–144.
    1. Green PM, Kelly BA. Colorectal cancer knowledge, perceptions, and behaviors in African Americans. Cancer Nurs. 2004;27(3):206–215. quiz 216–217.
    1. Harris DM, Miller JE, Davis DM. Racial differences in breast cancer screening, knowledge and compliance. J Natl Med Assoc. 2003;95(8):693–701.
    1. Hiatt RA, Pasick R, Perez-Stable E, et al. Pathways to early cancer detection in the multiethnic population of the San Francisco bay area. Health Educ Q. 1996;23(suppl):S10–S27.
    1. Kinney A, Choi Y, DeVellis B, et al. Attitudes toward genetic testing in patients with colorectal cancer. Cancer Pract. 2000;8(4):178–186.
    1. Lipkus IM, Lyna PR, Rimer BK. Colorectal cancer risk perceptions and screening intentions in a minority population. J Natl Med Assoc. 2000;92(10):492–500.
    1. Myers RE, Hyslop T, Jennings-Dozier K, et al. Intention to be tested for prostate cancer risk among African-American men. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2000;9(12):1323–1328.
    1. O’Malley MS, Earp JA, Hawley ST, et al. The association of race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and physician recommendation for mammography: who gets the message about breast cancer screening? Am J Public Health. 2001;91(1):49–54.
    1. Paskett ED, Rushing J, D’Agostino R, Jr, et al. Cancer screening behaviors of low-income women: the impact of race. Womens Health. 1997;3(3–4):203–226.
    1. Pearlman DN, Rakowski W, Ehrich B, et al. Breast cancer screening practices among black, Hispanic, and white women: reassessing differences. Am J Prev Med. 1996;12(5):327–337.
    1. Powe BD, Weinrich S. An intervention to decrease cancer fatalism among rural elders. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1999;26(3):583–588.
    1. Price JH, Colvin TL, Smith D. Prostate cancer: perceptions of African-American males. J Natl Med Assoc. 1993;85(12):941–947.
    1. Scroggins TG, Jr, Bartley TK. Enhancing cancer control: assessing cancer knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs in disadvantaged communities. J La State Med Soc. 1999;151(4):202–208.
    1. Thomas SM, Fick AC. Women’s health. Part II: Individual, environmental and economic factors affecting adherence to recommended screening practices for breast cancer. J La State Med Soc. 1995;147(4):149–155.
    1. Thompson HS, Valdimarsdottir HB, Winkel G, et al. The Group-Based Medical Mistrust Scale: psychometric properties and association with breast cancer screening. Prev Med. 2004;38(2):209–218.
    1. Weinrich S, Royal C, Pettaway CA, et al. Interest in genetic prostate cancer susceptibility testing among African American men. Cancer Nurs. 2002;25(1):28–34.
    1. Busch S. Elderly African American women’s knowledge and belief about colorectal cancer. ABNF J. 2003;14(5):99–103.
    1. Frisby CM. Messages of hope: health communication strategies that address barriers preventing black women from screening for breast cancer. J Black Stud. 2002;32(5):489–505.
    1. Greiner KA, Born W, Nollen N, et al. Knowledge and perceptions of colorectal cancer screening among urban African Americans. J Gen Intern Med. 2005;20(11):977–983.
    1. Hoffman-Goetz L. Cancer experiences of African-American women as portrayed in popular mass magazines. Psychooncology. 1999;8(1):36–45.
    1. Jennings KM. Getting a Pap smear: focus group responses of African American and Latina women. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1997;24(5):827–835.
    1. Jernigan JC, Trauth JM, Neal-Ferguson D, et al. Factors that influence cancer screening in older African American men and women: focus group findings. Fam Community Health. 2001;24(3):27–33.
    1. Matthews AK, Cummings S, Thompson S, et al. Genetic testing of African Americans for susceptibility to inherited cancers: use of focus groups to determine factors contributing to participation. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2000;18(2):1–19.
    1. Marks JP, Reed W, Colby K, et al. A culturally competent approach to cancer news and education in an inner city community: focus group findings. J Health Commun. 2004;9(2):143–157.
    1. Phillips JM, Cohen MZ, Moses G. Breast cancer screening and African American women: fear, fatalism, and silence. Oncol Nurs Forum. 1999;26(3):561–571.
    1. Tessaro I, Eng E, Smith J. Breast cancer screening in older African-American women: qualitative research findings. Am J Health Promot. 1994;8(4):286–292.
    1. Thomas EC. African American women’s breast memories, cancer beliefs, and screening behaviors. Cancer Nurs. 2004;27(4):295–302.
    1. Powe BD. Cancer fatalism among elderly African American women: predictors of the intensity of the perceptions. J Psychosoc Oncol. 2001;19 (3–4):85–95.
    1. Powe BD. Fatalism and participation in colorectal cancer screening among poor, elderly, black individuals. Diss Abstr Int. 1995;55(7):2648.
    1. Resnicow K, Campbell MK, Carr C, et al. Body and soul: a dietary intervention conducted through African-American churches. Am J Prevent Med. 2004;27(2):97–105.
    1. Powe BD. Cancer fatalism-spiritual perspectives. J Relig Health. 1997;36(2):135–144.
    1. Potts RG. Spirituality and the experience of cancer in an African-American community: implications for psychosocial oncology. J Psychosoc Oncol. 1996;14(1):1–19.
    1. Brenes GA, Paskett ED. Predictors of stage of adoption for colorectal cancer screening. Prev Med. 2000;31(4):410–416.
    1. Hill PC, Pargament KI. Advances in the conceptualization and measurement of religion and spirituality. Implications for physical and mental health research. Am Psychol. 2003;58(1):64–74.

Source: PubMed

Sponsoren und Mitarbeiter

Krankheiten

Drogeninterventionen

3
Abonnieren