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Lee and Ham: The Relationship between the Optimistic Bias about Cancer and Cancer Preventive Behavior of the Korean, Chinese, American, and Japanese Adult Residing in Korea
Original Article
Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing

Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing 2010; 40(1): 52-59.

Published online: 28 February 2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4040/jkan.2010.40.1.52

The Relationship between the Optimistic Bias about Cancer and Cancer Preventive Behavior of the Korean, Chinese, American, and Japanese Adult Residing in Korea

Sul Hee Lee1, Eun Mi Ham2

1Nurse, Konkuk University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

2Professor, Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, Chungju, Korea.

Address reprint requests to: Ham, Eun Mi. Department of Nursing, Konkuk University, 322 Danwol-dong, Chungju 380-701, Korea. Tel: 82-43-840-3958, Fax: 82-43-840-3958, hem2003@kku.ac.kr

Received 31 July 2009       Accepted 18 January 2010

Copyright © 2010 Korean Society of Nursing Science

Abstract

Purpose

This study was conducted to provide basic data for developing education and health promotion programs for the prevention of cancer by identifying the relation between optimistic bias about cancer and cancer preventive behavior in Korean, Chinese, American, and Japanese residents in Korea.

Methods

Using a questionnaire administered by the researcher, data were collected from a convenience sample of 600, 19 to 64-yr-old male and female Korean, Chinese, American, and Japanese residents in Korea. Data was collected between February 6 and 28, 2009.

Results

Scores for optimistic bias about cancer by nationality were: Koreans, -1.03; Chinese, -0.43; Americans, -0.23; and Japanese, 0.05. The cancer preventive behavior scores were: Koreans, 43.17; Chinese, 71.84; Americans, 71.71; and Japanese, 73.97. Optimistic bias about cancer and cancer preventive behavior showed a significantly positive correlation in all participants: Koreans (r=.223, p=.006); Chinese (r=.178, p=.029); Americans (r=.225, p=.006); and Japanese (r=.402, p<.001).

Conclusion

The greater the optimistic bias about cancer is, the lower the cancer preventive behavior. The findings suggest that nursing interventions are needed to reduce optimistic bias about cancer and to form a positive attitude towards cancer prevention because an optimistic bias about cancer adversely affects cancer preventive behavior.

Keywords: Cancer, Bias, Preventive behavior

Figures and Tables

Table 1
General Characteristics
jkan-40-52-i001

*Separation, divorce, separation by death.

Table 2
Optimistic Bias about Cancer according to the nationality
jkan-40-52-i002
Table 3
Cancer Preventive Behavior according to the nationality
jkan-40-52-i003
Table 4
Correlation between Optimistic Bias and Preventive Behavior
jkan-40-52-i004

Notes

This article is based on a part of the first author's master's thesis from Konkuk University.

This study was financially supported by Konkuk University in 2009.

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