Bee Teng Lim1, Phyllis Butow2, Jill Mills1, Annie Miller1, Angela Pearce1, David Goldstein3. 1. a Cancer Council NSW , Practical Support Unit , Sydney , Australia. 2. b Psycho-Oncology Co-Operative Research Group , The University of Sydney , NSW , Australia. 3. c Department of Medical Oncology , Prince of Wales Hospital , NSW , Australia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Chinese migrant cancer survivors and carers face multiple barriers to accessing quality cancer information and support. This study aimed to explore the challenges and unmet needs experienced by the Australian Chinese community affected by cancer, and understand the contexts that hindered optimal care for this community. METHODS: Adult cancer survivors and carers, whose native language is Mandarin or Cantonese, were recruited through community cancer support organizations. Bilingual researchers conducted focus groups with participants in either Mandarin or Cantonese. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and thematically analyzed using qualitative methods. FINDINGS: 62 Chinese-speaking participants (34 cancer survivors and 28 carers) participated in one of the eight focus groups conducted. The three main themes were (1) unmet information and support needs (trust, wellness, and rights); (2) barriers compounding unmet needs (language, health literacy, culture); and (3) participants' recommendations regarding cancer information and support provision. Seven subthemes of unmet needs were also identified: Trust (e.g., communication barriers, health system barriers, comparison regarding the care received), wellness (e.g., cultural differences produce conflict on views about wellness, need for psychological, community, and spiritual support), and rights (e.g., low awareness of financial and legal assistance, other factors increasing or reducing vulnerability). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the needs and provides new insights into the impact of language, culture and health literacy barriers on the unmet information and support needs of the Chinese community affected by cancer. The key findings will inform the development of culturally targeted information and support resources for this community.
OBJECTIVES: Chinese migrant cancer survivors and carers face multiple barriers to accessing quality cancer information and support. This study aimed to explore the challenges and unmet needs experienced by the Australian Chinese community affected by cancer, and understand the contexts that hindered optimal care for this community. METHODS: Adult cancer survivors and carers, whose native language is Mandarin or Cantonese, were recruited through community cancer support organizations. Bilingual researchers conducted focus groups with participants in either Mandarin or Cantonese. Focus groups were audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and thematically analyzed using qualitative methods. FINDINGS: 62 Chinese-speaking participants (34 cancer survivors and 28 carers) participated in one of the eight focus groups conducted. The three main themes were (1) unmet information and support needs (trust, wellness, and rights); (2) barriers compounding unmet needs (language, health literacy, culture); and (3) participants' recommendations regarding cancer information and support provision. Seven subthemes of unmet needs were also identified: Trust (e.g., communication barriers, health system barriers, comparison regarding the care received), wellness (e.g., cultural differences produce conflict on views about wellness, need for psychological, community, and spiritual support), and rights (e.g., low awareness of financial and legal assistance, other factors increasing or reducing vulnerability). CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the needs and provides new insights into the impact of language, culture and health literacy barriers on the unmet information and support needs of the Chinese community affected by cancer. The key findings will inform the development of culturally targeted information and support resources for this community.
Entities:
Keywords:
English proficiency; cancer; culture; health literacy; migrant; unmet needs
Authors: Cathy O'Callaghan; Gayathri Gaya Dharmagesan; Jane Roy; Vyshali Dharmagesan; Patty Loukas; Ben Harris-Roxas Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-03-25 Impact factor: 3.603