Knowledge About Cancer and Use of Health Care Services Among Hispanic- and Asian-American Older Adults

The study described in this article assessed the perceptions of older members of three ethnic groups (Hispanic, Chinese, and Vietnamese) concerning the accessibility of diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation services, especially in relation to cancer. The specific purposes of the study were to (1) develop a sociocultural instrument for assessing the characteristics of the populations at risk for cancer, patterns of use of health care services, and the degree to which individuals were satisfied with those services, (2) test the validity of the instrument, (3) identify and describe the respondents' perceptions about cancer and their knowledge of the disease, (4) evaluate their current access to diagnostic, treatment, and rehabilitation services, and (5) identify barriers-both actual and perceived-against seeking cancer treatment and rehabilitation. On the basis of their preliminary findings, the authors offer a series of recommendations for removing the barriers to health care revealed by the study.