A Culturally Tailored Educational Program for Breast Cancer Risk Reduction in Korean Immigrant Women: A Community-Based Pilot Study

Abstract

Objective This study evaluated the effectiveness of a culturally tailored educational program, the Korean Breast Cancer Risk Reduction Program (KBCRRP), to reduce breast cancer (BC) risk factors and increase screening among Korean American (KA) women. Methods Guided by the PRECEDE-PROCEED and Health Belief Models, the KBCRRP targeted healthy weight, physical activity, diet, and BC screening. A quasi-experimental design involved KA women (age >= 40 years, BMI >= 23 kg/m(2)) from a community organization in New York City. The intervention group (IG, n = 14) attended eight in person weekly sessions and received 16 weeks of smartphone follow-up. The control group (CG, n = 14) received written cancer prevention materials. Anthropometric measurements and self-reported questionnaires were collected in weeks 1, 8, and 24. Changes in BMI, physical activity, diet, and BC screening were analyzed using descriptive statistics, paired t-tests, and McNemar tests. Results Participants (N = 28; IG = 14, CG = 14) had an average age of 58.07 years (SD = 6.78). At eight weeks, IG participants demonstrated a significant reduction in BMI (p = 0.001) and decreased calorie intake at both eight weeks (p = 0.046) and 24 weeks (p = 0.042). CG participants showed an increase in waist-hip ratio at both time points (p < 0.01). Mammography uptake improved in both groups, with no significant group difference. Conclusion Despite a small sample size, the KBCRRP showed a significant reduction in key BC risk factors among KA women.