Health Care Providers' Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators to Cervical Cancer Screening in Vietnamese American Women

• Published in: Journal of transcultural nursing Vol. 29; no. 5; p. 441
• Main Authors: Nguyen-Truong, Connie Kim Yen, Hassouneh, Dena, Lee-Lin, Frances, Hsiao, Chiao-Yun, Le, Tuong Vy, Tang, Joannie, Vu, Margret, Truong, Anthony My
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2018
• Subjects: Vietnamese; cervical; screening; health care providers
• ISSN: 1552-7832
• DOI: 10.1177/1043659617745135

Vietnamese American women (VAW) are diagnosed and die at twice the rate than White non-Hispanic American women (16.8/100,000 vs. 8.1/100,000 and 4.4/100,000 vs. 2.4/100,000, respectively). Despite efforts to increase cervical cancer (CC) screening among VAW, the participation rates are persistently low (69% to 81%). The purpose of this study was to explore health care providers' (HCPs) perspectives on barriers and facilitators to CC screening in VAW. This qualitative descriptive pilot study, used open-ended semistructured interviews with 10 HCPs. The HCPs had two to 23 years treating VAW. Major barriers and facilitators identified by the HCPs were as follows: VAW's decision making about CC screening; sexual health divide; language discordance, relying on interpreters; breaking suspicion; VAW's exposure to health sources of CC screening; sustainable trust; and motivated health care practices. HCPs perceived the reasons for VAW not being screened or delaying CC screening were due to their lack of knowledge, cultural barriers, language, and issues related to trust.