Self-Efficacy and Mammography in a Vietnamese Immigrant Population

Written by Bonnie Jerome-D’Emilia

doi: https://doi.org/10.13178/jnparr.2021.11.02.1105

Abstract

Background: Foreign-born women who immigrate to the United States tend to have lower mammography rates than American-born women. Few studies have examined breast cancer screening rates in Vietnamese women in the US. The construct of self-efficacy has been used as a measure to determine a woman’s likelihood to undergo mammography screening. However this construct has not been utilized in a Vietnamese immigrant population.

Objective: The objective of this study was to validate and examine the predictive ability of a translated version of the General Self-Efficacy Scale in a sample of low-income Vietnamese immigrant women in coordination with a local grassroots organization that has been able to increase mammography screening rates in a population of Vietnamese women in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

Methods: Cronbach’s alpha, exploratory factor analysis, and logistic regression were utilized. This study used a convenience sample of women who participated in Vietlead activities over six months. The final sample was 152 women.

Results: Cronbach’s alpha was 0.80. An exploratory factor analysis proved a one-factor solution; however, the scale was not found to be predictive as there was no association between self-efficacy level and mammogram utilization. This sample of women had a high rate of screening and were active members in an organization focused on the Vietnamese community. The Vietnamese tend to have a collectivist culture, and it is possible that group membership alleviates the need for individual self-efficacy in mammogram utilization.

Conclusion: To improve and increase the use of preventive care, consistent social support is needed to engage ethnic and racially diverse women and to overcome personal barriers that impede the necessary use of these services. The comprehensive services offered by this local group may be what is needed to sustain cancer screening in low-income populations of women.

Keywords: breast cancer, self-efficacy, validation, instrument, Vietnamese