Spousal Interaction and Breast Cancer Screening Among Korean Americans

Abstract

Breast cancer screening rates for Korean Americans (KA) are low, leading to higher morbidity and mortality of the screening interventions tested, almost none account for family interactions and communication between KA couples. The purpose of this study was to explore communication patterns between KA wives and husbands about breast cancer screening after attending an educational program on breast health. Couples were enrolled in a community RCT to increase mammography among KA women. A random 10% of couples audio-recorded their interactions at home regarding the education they received during the RCT. The transcribed and translated data were analyzed for communication content and patterns. Husbands typically took the lead in directing the conversation and the strategies for engaging their wives with screening. Some long-held cultural beliefs were discussed as were strategies for how husbands could help wives with remembering and completing regular mammography. This analysis of focused spousal discussions provides a unique picture of the interaction between KA husbands and wives around breast cancer screening. These data could inform further investigation of family-based interventions and spousal interaction to understand how to leverage spousal support to encourage KA women’s completion of mammography.