Open AccessChinese‐Australian women with breast cancer call for culturally appropriate information and improved communication with health professionals
Author(s) -
Levesque Janelle V.,
Gerges Martha,
Wu Verena S.,
Girgis Afaf
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
cancer reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 5
ISSN - 2573-8348
DOI - 10.1002/cnr2.1218
Subject(s) - interpreter , thematic analysis , focus group , psychosocial , language barrier , breast cancer , health care , medicine , health communication , qualitative research , information needs , nursing , family medicine , psychology , cancer , communication , sociology , psychiatry , social science , linguistics , philosophy , world wide web , computer science , anthropology , economics , programming language , economic growth
Background For culturally and linguistically diverse patients, breast cancer presents complex physical, psychosocial, and health care challenges, often exacerbated by a lack of culturally appropriate information and communication barriers with the treating team (even with the help of interpreters). Aim This qualitative study aims to broadly explore the experience of breast cancer and coping strategies utilized by Chinese‐Australian women. Methods and results Twenty‐four Chinese‐Australian women with breast cancer participated in either a semi‐structured interview or a focus group conducted in participants' preferred language, audio‐recorded, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis. Two prominent themes emerged, related to information seeking, and communication with health care professionals. The theme of information needs and seeking highlighted unmet information needs and the multiple sources that are consulted for information. The second theme, communication with health care professionals, language barriers, and preferences, identified varying degrees of involvement in treatment decision‐making, preference for information and interactions in Cantonese or Mandarin, and problems with interpreter services. Conclusion Chinese women with breast cancer face significant challenges in obtaining adequate information and can feel excluded from treatment decision‐making. Women in this study expressed their eagerness for obtaining accurate information and engaging in open communication with their doctors. There is a need for culturally sensitive information resources and decision aids to enhance communication between Chinese migrant patients with cancer and health care professionals. Clinician participation in cultural awareness training is also recommended.