Older healthy Hispanic women's beliefs about breast cancer

Abstract

An exploratory descriptive design was used to investigate older healthy Hispanic women's beliefs about breast cancer. A secondary analysis of a database from a larger study dealing with Hispanic and Anglo women's knowledge of breast cancer and use of breast cancer screening was conducted. Using Orem's theory of self-care and self-care deficit as the framework, and content analysis, data were obtained from a two part question of the original 63 item questionnaire. A major finding was that hopelessness/powerlessness received the largest number of responses, especially from the youngest subjects, 50 to 69 years old. The seventy year olds had the largest number of responses in the acceptance category, while the eighty year olds had the largest in the denial category. The results supported the importance of culturally relevant and sensitive nursing practice. Reasons for older healthy Hispanic women's beliefs about breast cancer are discussed as well as recommendations for nursing practice and future research.