Sub-Ethnicity and Survivorship Experience: Asian American Breast Cancer Survivors.

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to explore the associations of sub-ethnicity to the survivorship experience of Asian American breast cancer survivors and identify the multiple factors that influenced their survivorship experience. This was a secondary analysis of the data among 94 Asian American breast cancer survivors from a larger ongoing study. Instruments included: questions on background characteristics, the perceived isolation scale, the Personal Resource Questionnaire, the Memorial Symptom Assessment Scale-Short Form, and the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast Cancer. Data were analyzed using hierarchical logistic and multiple regression analyses. After controlling for other factors, being a Japanese American (ref. = being a Chinese American) was significantly associated with pain scores (odds ratio [OR] = -0.32, p < .01), symptom distress scores (β = -0.27, p < .01), and the quality of life scores (β = 0.22, p = .03). Sub-ethnic variations in cultural attitudes, values, and beliefs need to be considered in future research/practice with Asian American breast cancer survivors.