Background: Cancer is the leading cause of death among Southeast Asians in the U.S., yet breast and cervical cancer screening rates for Southeast Asian women are the lowest across all racial and ethnic groups.
Methods: Of the 194 Cambodian, Lao, Filipino, and Vietnamese women enrolled, 103 were randomly assigned to the Tailored Intervention Messaging System© (TIMS), who received tailored messages addressing perceived risks, benefits, and barriers, self-efficacy, and navigation from a community health advisor over 10 weeks to complete mammograms and Pap tests. The 91 participants randomly assigned to the control group received information and reminders only. Both groups completed a baseline questionnaire. A cultural community advisory board helped guide the study to ensure cultural appropriateness and relevance.
Results: After the 31 (16%) lost to follow-up, there were 164 participants, and of them, 78 participants were eligible (by age and screening) for a mammogram. There was no statistically significant difference in mammogram tests by intervention group. Of those in the control group, 14 (18.9%) completed screenings, and 17 (19.10%) completed screenings in the navigation group. There were statistically significant differences in mammograms by ethnicity. The Lao constituted the largest group, with 20 (36.4%) screened, followed by Cambodians at 7 (29.2%), whereas only 5 (9.62%) of Vietnamese and none of the Filipinas were screened (X2= (df=3) =22.10, p<.001). Of the 77 eligible for a Pap test, 14 (18.18%) were screened. There was no statistically significant difference in Pap tests by intervention group: in the control group, 7 (9.09%) completed the screening, and in the navigation group, 7 (19.10%) completed screenings. There were no statistically significant differences in Pap test completion by ethnicity. Several demographic characteristics were significantly related to screening. Lower incomes and being insured by Medicaid and Medicare were associated with fewer mammograms (X2= (df=5) =24.01, p<.001) and (X2= (df=4) =11.65, p=.02), respectively. Being married was associated with more mammograms (X2= (df=3) =13.99, p=.003).
Conclusion: The culturally tailored navigation intervention improved cancer screening adherence among populations with limited access to preventive care. Despite no significance in screening between intervention groups, the study highlights the importance of culturally relevant approaches in addressing cancer screening disparities.