Jessica L Krok-Schoen1,2, Katia Fernandez3, Gary W Unzeitig4, Griselda Rubio4, Electra D Paskett5,6,7, Douglas M Post. 1. Division of Medical Dietetics and Health Sciences, School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 453 W. 10th Ave., 306 Atwell Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. jessica.krok@osumc.edu. 2. Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. jessica.krok@osumc.edu. 3. College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 370 W. 9th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. 4. Doctors Hospital of Laredo, 10700 McPherson Rd., Laredo, TX, 78045, USA. 5. Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, 460 W. 10th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. 6. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, 370 W. 9th Ave., Columbus, OH, 43210, USA. 7. Division of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, The Ohio State University, 1841 Neil Ave., Cunz Hall, Columbus, OH, 43210, USA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Patient-clinician communication difficulties are a major barrier to effective symptom management during chemotherapy especially among non-English-speaking and minority patients. This study sought to examine how information is exchanged between patients and clinicians during chemotherapy treatment regarding pain, depression, fatigue, and nausea experienced among the most prevalent non-English-speaking group in the USA, Hispanic breast cancer survivors. METHODS: Hispanic breast cancer patients and clinicians participated in focus groups to examine Hispanic breast cancer survivors' experience and patient-physician communication of symptoms during chemotherapy. Three separate focus groups (English language with patients, Spanish language with patients, and English language with clinicians) were conducted. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire. RESULTS: Six breast cancer survivors participated in the English-language focus group, ten breast cancer survivors participated in the Spanish-language focus group, and five clinicians participated. Presence and communication of depressive symptoms between the English- and Spanish-language groups differed, with the majority of the English-language group sharing their experiences of depressive symptoms while those in the Spanish-language group did not report depressive symptoms. Results also indicated that most patients were unhappy with the response of clinicians regarding their reported symptoms. Several barriers to effective patient-clinician communication, including limited physician time, lack of patient knowledge, timidity, and language, were identified. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study underscore the need to improve patient-physician communication during chemotherapy to reduce the symptom burden among Hispanic breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE:Patient-clinician communication difficulties are a major barrier to effective symptom management during chemotherapy especially among non-English-speaking and minority patients. This study sought to examine how information is exchanged between patients and clinicians during chemotherapy treatment regarding pain, depression, fatigue, and nausea experienced among the most prevalent non-English-speaking group in the USA, Hispanic breast cancer survivors. METHODS: Hispanic breast cancerpatients and clinicians participated in focus groups to examine Hispanic breast cancer survivors' experience and patient-physician communication of symptoms during chemotherapy. Three separate focus groups (English language with patients, Spanish language with patients, and English language with clinicians) were conducted. All participants completed a demographic questionnaire. RESULTS: Six breast cancer survivors participated in the English-language focus group, ten breast cancer survivors participated in the Spanish-language focus group, and five clinicians participated. Presence and communication of depressive symptoms between the English- and Spanish-language groups differed, with the majority of the English-language group sharing their experiences of depressive symptoms while those in the Spanish-language group did not report depressive symptoms. Results also indicated that most patients were unhappy with the response of clinicians regarding their reported symptoms. Several barriers to effective patient-clinician communication, including limited physician time, lack of patient knowledge, timidity, and language, were identified. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study underscore the need to improve patient-physician communication during chemotherapy to reduce the symptom burden among Hispanic breast cancerpatients.
Entities:
Keywords:
Breast cancer; Chemotherapy; Hispanic; Patient-physician communication; Symptoms
Authors: Eida M Castro-Figueroa; Normarie Torres-Blasco; Milagros C Rosal; Julio C Jiménez; Wallesca P Castro-Rodríguez; Marilis González-Lorenzo; Héctor Vélez-Cortés; Alia Toro-Bahamonde; Rosario Costas-Muñiz; Guillermo N Armaiz-Peña; Heather Jim Journal: Nurs Rep Date: 2021-06-09
Authors: Eunjeong Ko; Veronica Cardenas; María Luisa Zúñiga; Susan I Woodruff; Viviane Rodriguez; Helen Palomino Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2021-06-30 Impact factor: 3.390