Table 1.
Attitudes and beliefs about breast cancer
| Cambodian (n = 355) | Laotian (n = 361) | Thai (n = 742) | Tongan (n = 350) | Effect | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| χ 2 | p | |||||
| Most women with breast cancer can live a normal lifetime if it is discovered and treated early | ||||||
| Agree | 345 (97.2) | 331 (86.1) | 729 (98.2) | 323 (92.3) | 76.30 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 10 (2.8) | 50 (13.9) | 13 (1.8) | 27 (7.7) | ||
| A woman is more likely to get breast cancer if her mother or sister has had it | ||||||
| Agree | 269 (75.8) | 263 (72.9) | 585 (78.8) | 293 (83.7) | 13.56 | 0.004 |
| Disagree | 86 (24.2) | 98 (27.1) | 157 (21.2) | 57 (16.3) | ||
| A woman is more likely to get breast cancer if she eats a diet high in fat | ||||||
| Agree | 157 (44.2) | 204 (56.5) | 503 (67.8) | 176 (50.3) | 65.35 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 198 (55.8) | 157 (43.5) | 239 (32.2) | 174 (49.7) | ||
| A mammogram can find breast cancer in its early stages | ||||||
| Agree | 348 (98.0) | 333 (92.2) | 714 (96.2) | 344 (98.3) | 22.77 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 7 (2.0) | 28 (7.8) | 28 (3.8) | 6 (1.7) | ||
| People get breast cancer because they have lived a bad life | ||||||
| Agree | 110 (31.0) | 143 (39.6) | 201 (27.1) | 66 (18.9) | 39.37 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 245 (69.0) | 218 (60.4) | 541 (72.9) | 284 (81.1) | ||
| A mammogram is only needed if I feel I have symptoms | ||||||
| Agree | 297 (83.7) | 112 (31.0) | 529 (71.3) | 77 (22.0) | 436.56 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 58 (16.3) | 249 (69.0) | 213 (28.7) | 273 (78.0) | ||
| If breast cancer is found early, it can be cured | ||||||
| Agree | 340 (95.8) | 325 (90.0) | 738 (99.5) | 320 (91.4) | 62.96 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 15 (4.2) | 36 (10.0) | 4 (0.5) | 30 (8.6) | ||
| I think I would rather not know if I had breast cancer | ||||||
| Agree | 104 (29.3) | 87 (24.1) | 302 (40.7) | 69 (19.7) | 61.91 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 251 (70.7) | 274 (75.9) | 440 (59.3) | 281 (80.3) | ||
| I would undergo breast cancer treatment that is unpleasant or painful if it would improve my chances of living longer | ||||||
| Agree | 332 (93.5) | 329 (91.1) | 726 (97.8) | 337 (96.3) | 28.26 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 23 (6.5) | 32 (8.9) | 16 (2.2) | 13 (3.7) | ||
| I would be afraid to tell my husband or partner if I had breast cancer because it would damage our relationship | ||||||
| Agree | 74 (20.8) | 52 (14.4) | 117 (15.8) | 25 (7.1) | 27.12 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 281 (79.2) | 309 (85.6) | 625 (84.2) | 325 (92.9) | ||
| Breast cancer can be cured by traditional healers | ||||||
| Agree | 131 (36.9) | 113 (31.3) | 189 (25.5) | 69 (19.7) | 30.28 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 224 (63.1) | 248 (68.7) | 553 (74.5) | 281 (80.3) | ||
| I need a mammogram only when I have a breast lump | ||||||
| Agree | 269 (75.8) | 115 (31.9) | 577 (77.8) | 69 (19.7) | 473.12 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 86 (24.2) | 246 (68.1) | 165 (22.2) | 281 (80.3) | ||
| There is not much that I can do to prevent breast cancer | ||||||
| Agree | 173 (48.7) | 136 (37.7) | 522 (70.4) | 124 (35.4) | 169.60 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 182 (51.3) | 225 (62.3) | 220 (29.6) | 226 (64.6) | ||
| I am very likely to get breast cancer in my lifetime | ||||||
| Agree | 88 (24.8) | 210 (58.2) | 616 (83.0) | 128 (36.6) | 416.30 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 267 (75.2) | 151 (41.8) | 126 (17.0) | 222 (63.4) | ||
| Trauma to the breast(s) causes cancer | ||||||
| Agree | 226 (63.7) | 202 (56.0) | 461 (62.1) | 306 (87.4) | 93.79 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 129 (36.3) | 159 (44.0) | 281 (37.9) | 44 (12.6) | ||
| Breast cancer is caused by bad winds | ||||||
| Agree | 16 (4.5) | 78 (21.6) | 45 (6.1) | 20 (5.7) | 93.05 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 339 (95.5) | 283 (78.4) | 697 (93.9) | 330 (94.3) | ||
| Breast cancer is caused by (bad) spirits | ||||||
| Agree | 23 (6.5) | 50 (13.9) | 28 (3.8) | 39 (11.1) | 41.67 | <0.001 |
| Disagree | 332 (93.5) | 311 (86.1) | 714 (96.2) | 311 (88.9) | ||