Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health
Volume 20, Issue 3, 2018, Pages 680-686

Adapting Meaning-Centered Psychotherapy in Advanced Cancer for the Chinese Immigrant Population (Article)

Leng J.* , Lui F. , Chen A. , Huang X. , Breitbart W. , Gany F.
  • a Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States, Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, 485 Lexington Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017, United States
  • b Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States, Department of Clinical Psychology, The City College of New YorkNY, United States
  • c Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States
  • d Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States
  • e Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States
  • f Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNY, United States, Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, 485 Lexington Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY 10017, United States, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical CollegeNY, United States

Abstract

The Chinese immigrant community faces multiple barriers to quality cancer care and cancer survivorship. Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) is an empirically-based treatment shown to significantly reduce psychological distress while increasing spiritual well-being and a sense of meaning and purpose in life in advanced cancer patients. However, it has not yet been adapted for racial and ethnic minority populations for whom the concept of “meaning” may likely differ from that of westernized White populations. In this study, we conducted a community needs assessment to inform the cultural adaptation of MCP for Chinese patients with advanced cancer, in accordance with Bernal et al. ecological validity model and the cultural adaptation process model of Domenech-Rodriquez and Weiling. We conducted interviews until saturation with 11 key Chinese-serving community leaders and health professionals with a range of areas of expertise (i.e. oncology, psychology, palliative care, cancer support services), to examine community needs, priorities, and preferences within the context of the MCP intervention. Sessions were audio recorded and transcribed. The research team analyzed the transcripts using Atlas.ti. Six frequently occurring themes were identified. Interviewees described the role of the family, traditional Chinese values, cancer stigma, and social norms (e.g. saving face) in adapting MCP. Researchers and clinicians should consider the role of the family in treatment, as well as specific social and cultural values and beliefs in adapting and delivering MCP for Chinese patients with advanced cancer. © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Author Keywords

Chinese immigrants Spiritual well-being Cultural adaptation Psycho-oncology Advanced cancer Meaning-centered psychotherapy

Index Keywords

China neoplasm Neoplasms human Asian continental ancestry group coping behavior pathology Adaptation, Psychological ethnology qualitative research interview psychotherapy Humans migrant psychology New York Interviews as Topic male Emigrants and Immigrants female palliative therapy Palliative Care New York City
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85018257331&doi=10.1007%2fs10903-017-0591-7&partnerID=40&md5=f79e8f373479aeb4f809cac4854bfa69
DOI: 10.1007/s10903-017-0591-7
ISSN: 15571912
Cited by: 3
Original Language: English