Document Type
Article
Publication Date
11-2007
Publisher
Wiley
Source Publication
Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
Source ISSN
1041-2972
Abstract
Purpose: This integrated review was conducted to evaluate the factors that inhibit or promote decisions by African American and Hispanic women to obtain cervical cancer screening.
Data sources: Research articles were identified using MEDLINE, PubMed, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health literature, published between 1999 and 2005.
Conclusions: Cervical cancer screening practices of African American and Hispanic women were influenced by extrinsic motivators including lack of insurance, no usual source of health care, acculturation, and socioeconomic factors. Intrinsic motivators were related to beliefs and perceptions of vulnerability, such as ignoring cervical cancer screening when no symptoms were present; believing that not knowing if one had cervical cancer was better; and thinking that only women who engage in sexual risk–taking behaviors need to obtain Papanicolaou (Pap) smear testing.
Implications for practice: Nurse practitioners (NPs) have an opportunity to impact the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer by improving screening practices of minority women. They can emphasize the importance of obtaining Pap smears regularly, teach patients the risks for and signs and symptoms of cervical cancer, and provide recommendations for obtaining screening at low cost or no cost to the patient. To improve cancer screening practices, NPs need to address minority women’s beliefs about cervical cancer and provide information and services in a culturally sensitive manner at an appropriate level of learning.
Recommended Citation
Ackerson, Kelly and Gretebeck, Kimberlee A., "Factors Influencing Cancer Screening Practices of Underserved Women" (2007). College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications. 851.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/nursing_fac/851
Comments
Accepted version. Journal of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, Vol. 19, No. 11 (November 2007): 591-601. DOI. © 2007 Wiley. Used with permission.
Kimberlee Gretebeck was affiliated with the University of Michigan at the time of publication.