Culturally Targeted Video Improves Psychosocial Outcomes in Latina Women at Risk of Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2019-11, Vol.16 (23), p.4793
• Main Authors: Hurtado-de-Mendoza, Alejandra, Graves, Kristi D, Gómez-Trillos, Sara, Carrera, Pilar, Campos, Claudia, Anderson, Lyndsay, Luta, George, Peshkin, Beth N, Schwartz, Marc D, Cupertino, Ana-Paula, Gonzalez, Nathaly, Sheppard, Vanessa B
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Attitudes; Behavior; Breast cancer; Cervical cancer; Emotions; Female; Genetic counseling; Genetic disorders; Health education; Health literacy; Health risks; Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome - psychology; Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome - therapy; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Humans; Information Dissemination; Knowledge; Latin America - ethnology; Life expectancy; Life span; Medical diagnosis; Medical screening; Mid-Atlantic Region; Middle Aged; Mutation; Ovarian cancer; Ovarian carcinoma; Partnerships; Pilot Projects; Risk analysis; Risk assessment; Risk factors; Sociodemographics; Southeastern United States; Studies; Womens health
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16234793

Latina women at risk of hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) have lower awareness, knowledge, and use of genetic counseling and testing services (GCT) than non-Latina Whites. Few interventions have been developed to reduce these disparities among at-risk Latinas. This pilot study assessed the impact of a culturally targeted narrative video developed by our team. The study included 40 Latina immigrants living in the United States who were at risk of HBOC, including affected and unaffected women. We assessed pre-post differences in psychosocial outcomes. Participants were 47.35 years old on average (SD = 9.48). Most (70%) were unaffected with cancer, had an annual income of $40,000 or less (65%), an education of High School or less (62.5%), and were uninsured (77.5%). The video significantly enhanced knowledge ( < 0.001), positive attitudes ( < 0.05), anticipatory positive emotions ( < 0.05), and intentions to participate in counseling ( < 0.001). Importantly, the video also significantly reduced negative attitudes ( < 0.05), and attitudinal ambivalence ( < 0.001). The culturally targeted video shows preliminary evidence in improving psychosocial outcomes related to GCT uptake in Latinas at risk for HBOC. This intervention is a promising easily-disseminable strategy to address disparities in GCT utilization.