Myths and common misbeliefs about cervical cancer causation among Palestinian women: a national cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Cervical cancer (CC) myths and beliefs can negatively impact women's preventive behaviors, including vaccination against human papillomavirus and having regular screening tests. This study aimed to examine awareness of Palestinian women about myths related to CC causation and investigated factors associated with good awareness.

METHODS

A national cross-sectional study was conducted to recruit adult Palestinian women from hospitals, primary healthcare facilities, and public areas in 11 Palestinian governorates. A translated-into-Arabic version of the Cancer Awareness Measure-Mythical Causes Scale was used to collect data. Awareness level was determined based on the number of CC myths around CC causation recognized to be incorrect: poor (0-4), fair (5-9), and good (10-13).

RESULTS

A total of 7058 questionnaires were included. Myths unrelated to food were more commonly recognized as incorrect compared to those related to food. The most recognized food-unrelated myth was 'having a physical trauma' (n = 3714, 52.6%), whereas the least recognized was 'using mobile phones' (n = 2238, 31.7%). The most recognized food-related myth was 'drinking from plastic bottles' (n = 2708, 38.4%), whereas the least recognized was 'eating food containing additives' (n = 1118, 15.8%). Only 575 participants (8.1%) displayed good awareness and promptly recognized at least 10 out of 13 myths around CC causation as incorrect. Factors associated with lower likelihood of displaying good awareness of myths around CC causation included living in the West Bank and Jerusalem, being married, widowed or divorced, knowing someone with cancer, and visiting hospitals or primary healthcare centers.

CONCLUSIONS

A very small proportion of Palestinian women recognized 10 or more myths around CC causes as incorrect. Initiatives addressing CC myths are needed in the Palestinian community.

Can popular films instil carcinophobia? Images of cancer in popular Polish cinema

Introduction

Although cancer is currently considered a serious socio-medical challenge and health education in Poland has been positioned as a public health priority, the impact of popular culture on people's ideas about cancer has been neglected. This study therefore aims to analyse the way popular Polish films portray cancer and the experience of cancer.

Material and Methods

Seven popular Polish films featuring cancer were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The main categories included in the coding frame were disease, therapy, patient, physicians/oncologists and psychosocial issuses related to cancer.

Results

Polish films fail to provide the audience with basic information about the disease, its diagnoses and treatment and cancer is often represented as a mysterious disease with an unclear cause, an unpredictable and unsuccessful course of treatment, characterised by pain, suffering and inevitable death. Films may therefore instil carcinophobia. Since films accurately reflect problems of daily life faced by cancer patients and their families they have educational potential.

Conclusion

Although Polish films reinforce harmful stereotypes about cancer, its treatment, oncological institutions and specialists, cinema has the ability to raise the public's and health professionals' awareness regarding the psycho-social and emotional strains faced by cancer patients and the medical problems related to cancer.

Can popular films instil carcinophobia? Images of cancer in popular Polish cinema

Introduction

Although cancer is currently considered a serious socio-medical challenge and health education in Poland has been positioned as a public health priority, the impact of popular culture on people’s ideas about cancer has been neglected. This study therefore aims to analyse the way popular Polish films portray cancer and the experience of cancer.

Material and Methods

Seven popular Polish films featuring cancer were analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively. The main categories included in the coding frame were disease, therapy, patient, physicians/oncologists and psychosocial issuses related to cancer.

Results

Polish films fail to provide the audience with basic information about the disease, its diagnoses and treatment and cancer is often represented as a mysterious disease with an unclear cause, an unpredictable and unsuccessful course of treatment, characterised by pain, suffering and inevitable death. Films may therefore instil carcinophobia. Since films accurately reflect problems of daily life faced by cancer patients and their families they have educational potential.

Conclusion

Although Polish films reinforce harmful stereotypes about cancer, its treatment, oncological institutions and specialists, cinema has the ability to raise the public’s and health professionals’ awareness regarding the psycho-social and emotional strains faced by cancer patients and the medical problems related to cancer.

Adaptation and psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire for cervical cancer patients

PURPOSE

Illness perception is an important factor that influences psychological distress, coping behaviors, and illness outcomes, and this factor is often assessed by the Revised Illness Perception Questionnaire (IPQ-R). Data regarding illness perception among cervical cancer patients are limited, especially in China. The study aimed to adapt and psychometrically test the Chinese version of the IPQ-R for Cervical Cancer (CIPQ-R-CC).

METHODS

This was a methodological study. Before the survey, the identity and causal subscales (originally 14 and 18 items, respectively) were adapted. Data were collected from 220 cervical cancer patients (N = 220) from June 2018 to February 2019. Psychometric properties were assessed using explanatory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, Pearson correlation coefficients, one-way analysis of variance, t-tests and Cronbach's alpha coefficients.

RESULTS

Eight identity items and twenty-six causal items were included in the CIPQ-R-CC, which showed acceptable content validity (I-CVI = 0.78-1.00, S-CVI = 0.97-0.99). A five-factor solution was obtained from the cause subscale by explanatory factor analysis, and these factors explained 60.19% of the total variance. For Part III of the CIPQ-R-CC, after deleting nine items and respecifying five error covariances, the proposed seven-factor model was confirmed. There were low to moderate correlations between the latent factors (r＜0.52). Known-group validity was demonstrated in some groups with different demographic characteristics. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were also acceptable (0.60-0.88).

CONCLUSION

The CIPQ-R-CC is a reliable and valid tool for assessing illness perception among Chinese cervical cancer patients. Future studies are needed to verify its factor structure and to confirm its theoretical connotation.

Why did I get cancer? Perceptions of childhood cancer survivors in Korea

This study explored whether and how childhood cancer survivors in Korea ask and resolve the question of what may have caused their cancer. Thirty-one childhood cancer survivors participated in in-depth interviews about their self-questioning process in this regard. The findings indicate that Korean childhood cancer survivors pondered this question alone due to the stigma attached to cancer in the family and society. Their answers included internal factors (doing "bad things," having unhealthy eating habits, engaging in magical thinking, having a stress-prone personality, or having a biological susceptibility) or external factors (stressors, random events, the environment, or medical conditions). How they perceived the cause of cancer had an impact on aspects of their current lives. Psychosocial care standards or guidelines are needed in regard to the provision of a safe environment in which Korean cancer survivors and their parents can share their perceptions and process their thoughts.

Cervical Cancer Screening Experiences Among Chinese American Immigrant Women in the United States

OBJECTIVE

To understand the experiences and perceptions of having cervical cancer screening tests and to explore the extant barriers to having the tests among first-generation Chinese American women in the United States.

DESIGN

Qualitative, descriptive, phenomenological research.

SETTING

Los Angeles, California.

PARTICIPANTS

Snowball and purposive sampling of 12 Chinese American immigrant women ages 20 to 65 years.

METHODS

Individual face-to-face, in-depth, semistructured interviews in which participants were asked about their experiences and perceptions about cervical cancer screening. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed, and translated into English. Data analysis included comparing and distinguishing, collecting and counting, and presupposing and inferring.

RESULTS

Through the analysis process, we identified four major themes that reflected the experiences, perceptions, and barriers to having cervical cancer screening among Chinese American women: Belief in a Healthy Lifestyle, Maintaining Privacy for Female Health Problems, Fear of Losing Control, and Feeling Vulnerable in an Unfamiliar Health Care System. These themes indicated that Chinese immigrant women in the United States face challenges to their cultural health beliefs and practices with regard to decision-making and health-seeking behaviors related to cervical cancer screening. They felt more vulnerable as immigrants because of systematic barriers to navigation of the unfamiliar health care system and limited resources.

CONCLUSION

Women's health care providers should be aware of and give consideration to cultural differences through the provision of more educational information and comfort to Chinese immigrant women who seek cervical cancer screening. Ultimately, the development of culturally appropriate and affordable cancer prevention programs with effective strategies is important to ease Chinese American women's senses of vulnerability.

Determinants of human papillomavirus vaccination uptake among adolescent girls: A theory-based longitudinal study among Hong Kong Chinese parents

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination uptake among Chinese adolescent girls remains extremely low. This two-year longitudinal study examined theoretical predictors of adolescent girls' HPV vaccination uptake using an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). Between February and November 2014, a random sample of 1996 (response rate 60%) Hong Kong Chinese parents of 12- to 17-year-old HPV unvaccinated girls completed baseline telephone interviews assessing attitudes and intention towards HPV vaccination. Six and 12months later 1255 and 979 parents reported their daughters' HPV vaccination status, respectively. Structural equation modelling tested data fit to an TPB-derived hypothesized model of baseline factors predicting parental decisionmaking for adolescent girls' subsequent HPV vaccination uptake. Overall, at 1-year follow-up, only 9.8% (97/988) of participants' daughters received at least one dose of HPV vaccines. Descriptive norms (β=0.28), perceived greater benefits of HPV vaccination (β=0.17), anticipated affective consequences (β=0.32), and attitude to general optional vaccines (β=0.09) were associated with parental vaccination intention. Barriers to HPV vaccination (β=-0.31), descriptive norms (β=0.17), perceived self-efficacy (β=0.73), and vaccination intention (β=0.11) were associated with vaccination planning. Vaccination intention (β=0.31) and planning (β=0.18) modestly predicted vaccination uptake. The lack of government-organized HPV vaccination programme may result in persistent low HPV vaccination uptake and many young women may remain vulnerable to future cervical cancer risk in Hong Kong.

Lay beliefs, knowledge, and attitudes towards cancer: a pilot study in Japan

BACKGROUND

The attendance rates for cancer screening are low in Japan. Little is actually known about how the Japanese perceive cancer. Since beliefs about illness affect individuals' health care practice, the aim of this study was to explore beliefs about cancer and factors associated with those beliefs, focusing on representative cancer sites.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Japanese adults (≥20 years old) who had not been diagnosed with any cancers and were not health care professionals were recruited, using a convenience sampling approach. A total of 91 participants completed questionnaires including open-ended questions. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the responses.

RESULTS

Five themes were suggested: (i) a threatening illness that might greatly change one's future life; (ii) basic cancer knowledge; (iii) a curable illness with early detection and adequate treatment; (iv) causes of cancer; and (v) anyone can develop cancer. Families or friends' negative consequences of cancer were associated with negative beliefs about the disease. Gestational cancer was the most representative site of most themes.

CONCLUSIONS

A threatening illness (e.g., death or incurable illness) was the most common belief among the Japanese laypeople. Importance of early detection and treatments should be more emphasized, and future screening programs should include strategies modifying negative cancer beliefs among Japanese laypeople.

Psychosocial determinants of Chinese parental HPV vaccination intention for adolescent girls: preventing cervical cancer

BACKGROUND

Intention is an important precursor of decisions to undergo vaccination. Using an extensively modified theory of planned behaviour, we explored psychosocial determinants of vaccination intention against human papillomavirus (HPV) among Hong Kong Chinese parents.

METHODS

A random sample of 368 (response rate 54.6%) Chinese parents who had at least one daughter aged 12-17 years, had heard of HPV vaccine before but had not vaccinated daughters against HPV and had completed telephone interviews between February and April 2014. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis examined the additive effect of theoretical constructs. Stepwise multiple regression analysis determined which variables contributed the most to the prediction of vaccination intention.

RESULTS

Principal determinants of parental HPV vaccination intention were anticipated worry if not vaccinated (β = 0.23, p = 0.001), anticipated anxiety reduction after HPV vaccination (β = 0.19, p = 0.005), proneness to peer influence (β = 0.17, p = 0.002), private health insurance for children (β = 0.14, p = 0.009), perceiving daughter's susceptibility to cervical cancer (β = 0.17, p = 0.003), number of daughters (β = -0.13, p = 0.011), descriptive norms of HPV vaccination (β = 0.13, p = 0.021), perceiving cervical cancer as behaviour-preventable disease (β = -0.11, p = 0.031) and anticipated regret if not vaccinated (β = 0.14, p = 0.046). Cervical cancer-related worry/anxiety explained 32.8% of the variance in parental HPV vaccination intention.

CONCLUSIONS

Results suggest that cervical cancer-related worry/anxiety is the most important predictor of parental HPV vaccination intention in Hong Kong Chinese and possibly other populations. Social influences also play an important role affecting parental vaccination intention, particularly peer influence and descriptive norm beliefs. Implications of these results are discussed in terms of future HPV vaccination promotion and cervical cancer prevention programme. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.