Breast cancer screening practices and associated factors among Chinese-Australian women living in Sydney: A cross-sectional survey study.

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate breast cancer screening practices and associated factors among Chinese‐Australian women. A cross‐sectional quantitative survey method including convenience and snowball sampling was used to recruit 115 Chinese‐Australian women living in Sydney, using a self‐administered survey. In all, 69.8% of participants reported recent clinical breast examinations and 73.3% had mammograms. Age, religion, employment status, and length of residence were associated with having a clinical breast examination. Income was related to having a mammogram. Associations between knowledge of breast cancer, cancer‐related beliefs, and screening participation were found. Length of residence in Australia was the strongest predictor of having a clinical breast examination and mammogram. The most common barrier to mammography was if women felt that doctors did not recommend it to them. Chinese‐Australian women need to be educated about awareness of their usual breast health to be aware of any changes, especially if women are not eligible for mammography or have difficulty in accessing health services. Tailored programs, improving screening experiences, and minimizing perceived barriers are needed to promote early detection of breast cancer among Chinese–Australian women.