Date of Conferral

2018

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Health Services

Advisor

JaMuir Robinson

Abstract

Although the incidence of breast cancer is almost the same for middle-aged African American and Caucasian women, the rate of patients' following breast cancer screening and following up recommendations differs. African American women are less likely to follow recommendations and have higher mortality rates when compared to Caucasian women. One factor thought to affect compliance with breast cancer screening and follow up is culturally sensitive communication. This purpose of this quantitative correlational study was to determine if the culturally sensitive communication of a medical center influenced compliance with breast cancer screening and follow up and if compliance has an effect on the stage of breast cancer when diagnosed for African American women between the ages of 50 and 74. The research questions were aligned with the theoretical pathways of the Patient-Centered Culturally Sensitive Healthcare Model. This quantitative cross-sectional study was based on secondary data of African American women aged 50-74 from electronic systems for each Southern California location of a national health maintenance organization between the years 2012-2016. The results of the regression analysis from averages of the scores from the Member Appraisal of Physician/Provider Services questionnaire, determined associations between the cultural sensitivity scores of the African American woman's medical center and their compliance with recommendations for breast cancer screening and follow up after screening. However, no association between the stage of cancer and medical center's cultural sensitivity was found. Results can be used to develop cultural sensitivity interventions at medical centers aimed to enhance African American women's compliance with breast cancer screening and follow-up recommendations.

Download

Share

 
COinS