Where Culture Meets Genetics: Exploring Latinas Causal Attributions of Breast and Colon Cancer and Models of Disease Inheritance
| Status: | Completed |
|---|---|
| Conditions: | Breast Cancer, Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Cancer |
| Therapuetic Areas: | Oncology |
| Healthy: | No |
| Age Range: | 18 - 75 |
| Updated: | 1/16/2019 |
| Start Date: | May 10, 2016 |
| End Date: | February 2, 2017 |
Where Culture Meets Genetics: Exploring Latinas' Causal Attributions of Breast and Colon Cancer and Mental Models of Disease Inheritance
Background:
Culture can affect the way a person thinks about illness. This can affect how they seek help
for illness. It can also affect how they choose a treatment and follow it. This can lead to
health disparities among certain groups of people. Breast and colon cancers are the most
common cancers for Latinos. Even though they get these cancers at lower rates than other
population groups, Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed with these cancers at advanced
stages. Researchers want to study what Latina women immigrants believe causes breast and
colon cancer and other factors they think play a role in disease. This understanding could
lead to better interactions between Latinos and their doctors.
Objective:
To learn more about what Latina immigrants believe causes breast and colon cancer and other
factors they think play a role in disease.
Eligibility:
Women ages 18 and older who:
Were born in Latin America
Speak Spanish
Have never had breast, ovarian, or colon cancer
Design:
Participants will be interviewed in person or over the phone. This will take up to an hour.
The interview will be recorded. Participants will answer questions about:
Their family s cancer history
What they think causes breast and colon cancer
What they think plays a role in disease
Culture can affect the way a person thinks about illness. This can affect how they seek help
for illness. It can also affect how they choose a treatment and follow it. This can lead to
health disparities among certain groups of people. Breast and colon cancers are the most
common cancers for Latinos. Even though they get these cancers at lower rates than other
population groups, Latinos are more likely to be diagnosed with these cancers at advanced
stages. Researchers want to study what Latina women immigrants believe causes breast and
colon cancer and other factors they think play a role in disease. This understanding could
lead to better interactions between Latinos and their doctors.
Objective:
To learn more about what Latina immigrants believe causes breast and colon cancer and other
factors they think play a role in disease.
Eligibility:
Women ages 18 and older who:
Were born in Latin America
Speak Spanish
Have never had breast, ovarian, or colon cancer
Design:
Participants will be interviewed in person or over the phone. This will take up to an hour.
The interview will be recorded. Participants will answer questions about:
Their family s cancer history
What they think causes breast and colon cancer
What they think plays a role in disease
Research to understand the sources of health disparities has acknowledged that in addition to
biomedical risk factors, culture plays an important role in differential health outcomes.
Consequently, understanding cultural differences that may influence health behavior is key in
working towards reducing these disparities. Causal attributions are a key component of
individuals illness perceptions and thus impact health behaviors, which may present as health
disparities at a population level. While research has explored non-Hispanic White women s
causal attributions of breast cancer, less is known about Latina s beliefs about the causes
of breast cancer, and little is known about causal attributions of colon cancer in any
population. Understanding Latina s causal attributions of breast and colon cancer may provide
insight into the determinants of cancer disparities in this population. Because a subset of
both breast and colon cancers result from single gene mutations, which confer an increased
risk of developing such cancers, understanding causal attributions in Latina populations is
relevant to the field of genetics. This is especially true since Latinas have historically
underutilized cancer genetic risk assessment counseling and testing services. As these
services become a standard part of general healthcare provision, it will become increasingly
important to understand ways in which different cultural groups interact with genetic
information. One way this can be done is through investigating culturally informed mental
models of disease risk and inheritance. This study seeks to describe causal attributions of
breast and colon cancer and to explore mental models of disease inheritance among Latina
immigrants. A qualitative exploratory design including interviews comprised of free-listing,
ranking, and open-ended questions will be used. Participants will be recruited through the
NIH Clinical Research Volunteer Program as well as using other resources within the Office of
Participant Recruitment. First, we will describe Latina s causal attributions for these
cancers. Next, we will use cultural consensus theory (CCT) to identify and describe common
cultural models of causes of these cancers. Finally, we will explore Latina s mental models
of disease inheritance using both free-listing and openended questions.
2. Objectives and specific aims.
The objective of this study is to describe the cultural models of Latina immigrants regarding
causal attributions of breast and colon cancer as well as to explore this group s mental
models of disease inheritance.
Aim #1: To identify the main causal attributions of breast and colon cancers among Latina
immigrants.
Aim #2: To use cultural consensus analysis to identify the presence or absence of shared
cultural models of causal attributions for breast and colon cancers among participants.
Aim #3: To describe the mental models of disease inheritance held by members of the Latina
immigrant population.
3. Brief Rationale and Background:
Latinos in the United States
Hispanic or Latino is currently the largest minority group in the United States, constituting
17% of the population as of 2013 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In Maryland
specifically, the 2010 census found 8.3% of the population to be Hispanic or Latino, and as
of July 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 9.2% of the Maryland population is
Hispanic or Latino. Notably, the absolute number of Hispanics or Latinos in Maryland doubled
during the period 2000-2010, indicating the high level of growth in this segment of the
population (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24000lk.html). The U.S. Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) defines Hispanic or Latino as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto
Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race
(http://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html). For the purposes of
this proposal, the terms Latino/a will refer to people of Spanish-speaking countries of the
Western hemisphere, and Latino/a immigrants will refer to persons born in one of these
countries who have since immigrated to the United States. Notably, this working definition
excludes people of Spanish or Brazilian nationality or descent, mainly due to the cultural
focus of this investigation.
biomedical risk factors, culture plays an important role in differential health outcomes.
Consequently, understanding cultural differences that may influence health behavior is key in
working towards reducing these disparities. Causal attributions are a key component of
individuals illness perceptions and thus impact health behaviors, which may present as health
disparities at a population level. While research has explored non-Hispanic White women s
causal attributions of breast cancer, less is known about Latina s beliefs about the causes
of breast cancer, and little is known about causal attributions of colon cancer in any
population. Understanding Latina s causal attributions of breast and colon cancer may provide
insight into the determinants of cancer disparities in this population. Because a subset of
both breast and colon cancers result from single gene mutations, which confer an increased
risk of developing such cancers, understanding causal attributions in Latina populations is
relevant to the field of genetics. This is especially true since Latinas have historically
underutilized cancer genetic risk assessment counseling and testing services. As these
services become a standard part of general healthcare provision, it will become increasingly
important to understand ways in which different cultural groups interact with genetic
information. One way this can be done is through investigating culturally informed mental
models of disease risk and inheritance. This study seeks to describe causal attributions of
breast and colon cancer and to explore mental models of disease inheritance among Latina
immigrants. A qualitative exploratory design including interviews comprised of free-listing,
ranking, and open-ended questions will be used. Participants will be recruited through the
NIH Clinical Research Volunteer Program as well as using other resources within the Office of
Participant Recruitment. First, we will describe Latina s causal attributions for these
cancers. Next, we will use cultural consensus theory (CCT) to identify and describe common
cultural models of causes of these cancers. Finally, we will explore Latina s mental models
of disease inheritance using both free-listing and openended questions.
2. Objectives and specific aims.
The objective of this study is to describe the cultural models of Latina immigrants regarding
causal attributions of breast and colon cancer as well as to explore this group s mental
models of disease inheritance.
Aim #1: To identify the main causal attributions of breast and colon cancers among Latina
immigrants.
Aim #2: To use cultural consensus analysis to identify the presence or absence of shared
cultural models of causal attributions for breast and colon cancers among participants.
Aim #3: To describe the mental models of disease inheritance held by members of the Latina
immigrant population.
3. Brief Rationale and Background:
Latinos in the United States
Hispanic or Latino is currently the largest minority group in the United States, constituting
17% of the population as of 2013 according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In Maryland
specifically, the 2010 census found 8.3% of the population to be Hispanic or Latino, and as
of July 2014, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 9.2% of the Maryland population is
Hispanic or Latino. Notably, the absolute number of Hispanics or Latinos in Maryland doubled
during the period 2000-2010, indicating the high level of growth in this segment of the
population (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/24000lk.html). The U.S. Office of
Management and Budget (OMB) defines Hispanic or Latino as a person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto
Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin regardless of race
(http://www.census.gov/topics/population/hispanic-origin/about.html). For the purposes of
this proposal, the terms Latino/a will refer to people of Spanish-speaking countries of the
Western hemisphere, and Latino/a immigrants will refer to persons born in one of these
countries who have since immigrated to the United States. Notably, this working definition
excludes people of Spanish or Brazilian nationality or descent, mainly due to the cultural
focus of this investigation.
- INCLUSION CRITERIA:
- Are a woman, 18 years of age or older
- Have immigrated to the United States from Latin America
- Speak Spanish
- Are able to meet in-person in the metro Washington, DC area
Puedes reunir los requisitos si:
- Eres mujer y tienes 18 a(SqrRoot) os de edad o m(SqrRoot)(Degree)s
- Has emigrado a los Estados Unidos desde Latinoam(SqrRoot)(Copyright)rica
- Hablas el espa(SqrRoot) ol con fluidez
- Puedes asistir en persona en la zona metropolitana de Washington, DC
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
-NIH medical and research staff
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