Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume 19, Issue 2, 2011, Pages 281-290

From inside the bubble: Migrants' perceptions of communication with the cancer team (Article)

Butow P.N. , Sze M. , Dugal-Beri P. , Mikhail M. , Eisenbruch M. , Jefford M. , Schofield P. , Girgis A. , King M. , Goldstein D.
  • a Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia, School of Psychology, Brennan/McCallum Building (A18), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • b Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia, School of Psychology, Brennan/McCallum Building (A18), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • c Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia, School of Psychology, Brennan/McCallum Building (A18), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • d Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia, School of Psychology, Brennan/McCallum Building (A18), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • e School of Psychology, Psychiatry, and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
  • f Nursing and Supportive Care Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • g Nursing and Supportive Care Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  • h Centre for Health Research and Psycho-Oncology (CHeRP), Cancer Council NSW, University of Newcastle and the Hunter Medical Research Institute, Callaghan, NSW, Australia
  • i Psycho-Oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia, School of Psychology, Brennan/McCallum Building (A18), University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
  • j Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia

Abstract

Purpose: Migrants with cancer struggle to communicate with their health care team. This study aimed to identify health-care related unmet needs and communication issues for migrants who develop cancer and factors associated with these challenges. In this paper, the findings related to communication issues are presented. Patients and methods: Seventy-three cancer patients diagnosed within the previous 3 years and 18 carers, who had migrated to Australia and spoke the designated languages, participated in focus groups or structured interviews. Participants were recruited from ethnic community support organisations, support groups and Oncology clinics within three metropolitan hospitals in two states of Australia. Focus groups and semi-structured interviews were conducted in participants' own language or English as preferred, audio-taped, transcribed and translated into English and analysed using qualitative methods. Results: Four themes emerged: (1) cultural isolation, alienation and identification; (2) language and communication difficulties; (3) interpreter issues; and (4) advice for health professionals. Participants, especially those less acculturated, described feeling alone and misunderstood, failing to comprehend medical instructions, being unable to communicate questions and concerns and a lack of consistency in interpreters and interpretation. Conclusions: Migrants with cancer experience additional challenges to those of native-born patients. Participants provided cogent advice regarding optimal communication with people from their culture. There is clearly a need to develop strategies to increase the cultural competence of care to people from different countries. © 2010 Springer-Verlag.

Author Keywords

cancer Migrants unmet needs communication Multi-culturalism Cultural competence

Index Keywords

breast cancer cancer patient alienation Australia lung cancer interpersonal communication human colorectal cancer ethnic group priority journal Aged language male semi structured interview female cultural factor Article support group major clinical study adult migration ethnicity health care system attitude to health health practitioner caregiver health care need
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-78651493999&doi=10.1007%2fs00520-010-0817-x&partnerID=40&md5=15085dd32966a7475a4f5d62dffc7057
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-010-0817-x
ISSN: 09414355
Cited by: 53
Original Language: English