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The purpose of the study was to explore Korean women's attitudes toward breast cancer screening tests from a feminist perspective. Twenty Korean women working in Dong-Dae-Moon Market in Seoul, South Korea were recruited using a convenience sampling method. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guideline that was developed for the study. The data were analyzed using a thematic analysis. The themes emerged from the analysis process included: 'importance of breasts to women', 'fearful, but not related to me', 'bad previous experience', and 'no need for a breast exam.' Based on the findings, implications for nursing practice are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With an increasing number of ethnic minority populations, the use of multiple languages in one research study has increased in recent years. The use of multiple languages helps increase comprehensiveness of educational materials and/or survey questionnaires, and promote ethnic minorities' participation in research. However, little has been clearly known about practical issues in using multiple languages in one research study., Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to explore practical issues in using multiple languages in a study among diverse sub-ethnic groups of Asian American breast cancer survivors in order to propose future directions for the use of multiple languages in research projects., Methods: Throughout the research process, research team made written records of practical issues and possible reasons for the issues as they arose. Weekly group discussions among research team members were administered, and the written records of these discussions were reviewed and analyzed using the content analysis. The unit of analysis was individual words. The words in the data (memos and written records) were classified into idea categories that emerged from the coding process., Results: The idea categories included issues in: (a) collaborators from various sub-ethnic groups; (b) IRB protocol submissions; (c) consistencies in translation process, (d) conceptual equivalence; (e) cultural differences; (f) existing translated versions; and (g) authorship issues. Based on the issues, we made the following suggestions for multi-lingual research: (a) networking and setting multiple communication channels with potential collaborators; (b) checking the institution's IRB policies related to the use of multiple languages; (c) setting the rules and procedures for translation process; (d) checking existing different language versions of instruments; and (e) setting the rules for authorship in advance., Conclusions: The suggestions made in this study would help the researchers be prepared in advance to deal with the challenges., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Although a number of studies have reported different domains of cancer patients' needs for help, very little is known about gender and ethnic differences in those needs. Gender differences have been implicitly assumed in most studies, and specific ethnic groups have been focused on rather than comparing several ethnic groups., Objectives: The purpose of this pilot study was to explore cancer patients' needs for help among four major ethnic groups in the US, to determine gender and ethnic differences in needs, and to provide direction for future studies., Design: This was a descriptive and comparative pilot study using a feminist perspective., Settings and Participants: A total of 110 self-identified cancer patients were recruited through both Internet and community settings using a convenience sampling method., Methods: The instruments included sociodemographic questions, the Cancer Needs Questionnaire-Short Form, and the Supportive Care Needs Survey. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics including the Mann-Whitney U tests and Kruskal-Wallis tests., Results: The findings indicated that there was no significant gender difference in all domains of needs for help. There were significant ethnic differences in all domains of needs except communication and sexual needs. Asians reported the lowest scores in most domains of needs for help while Hispanics reported the highest scores in most domains of needs for help., Conclusions: The findings indicated certain ethnic differences in cancer patients' needs for help and suggest further in-depth qualitative investigations on cultural beliefs and attitudes that may influence needs, with a careful examination of gender sensitivity and cultural competence of the instruments measuring cancer patients' needs for help.

The purpose of this paper is to provide future directions for the usage of Internet communities (ICs) for recruitment of research participants based on issues raised in an Internet survey among 132 cancer patients. About 317 general and 233 ethnic-specific Internet Cancer Support Groups and 1588 ethnic-specific ICs were contacted to recruit cancer patients. Research staff recorded issues and wrote memos during the recruitment process. The written memos and records were later analyzed using content analysis. The issues included: (a) difficulty in identifying appropriate ICs and potential participants, (b) meta-tags, (c) dominant white and women groups, (d) dynamics inside ICs, (e) difficulty in trust building, and (f) potential selection bias. The findings suggest that researchers thoroughly review the ICs' information, be recognizant of potential gender and ethnic issues and current trends in Internet interaction, and consider potential selection bias.

Infant feeding decisions depend on knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding. The purpose of this study was to explore Korean university students' knowledge and attitudes toward breastfeeding by gender and major. This was a cross-sectional comparative study among 341 university students. The instrument was a modified self-administered breastfeeding knowledge and attitudes questionnaire. Female students were slightly more knowledgeable and had somewhat more positive attitudes compared to male students. Students in health-related fields showed more knowledge than students in other disciplines, but their attitudes did not differ in majority. A significant correlation was found between the students' knowledge and their attitudes.

In this paper, issues in Internet recruitment of ethnic minorities in the US are explored through an analysis of an Internet survey study. The issues include those related to: (a) the difficulties in ensuring authenticity; (b) a lack of cooperation by gate keepers; (c) the flexibility required in the recruitment process; (d) a very low response rate; and (e) selected groups of ethnic minorities. Based on the discussions on the issues, we propose regular updates of knowledge and skills related to Internet interactions and technologies, usage of multiple recruitment sources, pluralistic recruitment approaches, and a quota sampling method.

The purpose of the study was to determine comparability of an Internet format to a Pen-and-Pencil (PP) format of the Midlife Women's Symptom Index (MSI). This study utilized a cross-sectional comparative design with three sections: (a) a PP survey among 77 middle-aged women; (b) an Internet survey among 81 middle-aged women; and (c) an expert review among 20 women's health experts. Both of the PP and the Internet surveys included sociodemographic questions, the MSI, and the Menopausal Symptom Checklist. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, K-R20, and correlation coefficients. The findings supported the reliability and validity of both Internet and PP formats of the MSI.

With the increasing number of cross-cultural nursing studies, many scholars have suggested methods for conducting cross-cultural research. However, rigor in cross-cultural research has rarely been addressed. In this paper, five evaluation criteria for rigor in cross-cultural nursing research are proposed based on a review of the literature related to cross-cultural research published from 1965 to 2003. The proposed evaluation criteria include: (a) cultural relevance; (b) contextuality; (c) appropriateness; (d) mutual respect; and (e) flexibility. We advocate that these evaluation criteria be used to ensure rigor of cross-cultural nursing research, whether quantitative or qualitative work.

The purpose of the study was to explore women's own needs for and attitudes toward physical activity among Korean immigrant women in the US using feminist approach and transition theory. This was a cross-sectional study consisting of quantitative and qualitative phases. Using convenience sampling methods, 54 Korean immigrant women were recruited for the quantitative phase, and 15 women among them were recruited for the qualitative phase. Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews were used to collect data. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and thematic analysis. The findings indicated that the women's needs for and attitudes toward physical activity were influenced by the contexts of their culture and immigration, and deeply associated with the women's daily experiences. Some implications for future research and nursing practice are proposed based on the findings.

Even though there are advancements in research related to culturally competent care, there is an increasing realization that coherent theories and a research base to guide health care that is culturally competent is yet to be fully developed. In this paper, cultural competence of the scales measuring menopausal symptoms are critically analyzed in light of their limitations for Korean women--a population other than for whom it was developed. The analyses indicate that there are issues of contextuality, relevance, communication style, authenticity, power relationships and time constraints.