Cancer
Volume 75, Issue 5, 1995, Pages 1135-1140

Inadequate adherence to radiotherapy in latina immigrants with carcinoma of the cervix. Potential impact on disease free survival (Article)

Formenti S.C.* , Meyerowitz B.E. , Ell K. , Muderspach L. , Groshen S. , Leedham B. , Klcment V. , Morrow P.C.
  • a Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • b Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • c School of Social Work, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • d University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • e Department of Gynecology Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • f Department of Psychology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • g Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States
  • h University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States

Abstract

Background. Radiation therapy plays an important role in the loco‐regional control of carcinoma of the cervix. Strict adherence to the radiation protocol, without the introduction of time breaks, has been shown to favorably affect loco‐regional control and survival, making adherence a crucial variable for optimal outcome. Because carcinoma of the cervix is a common disease among Latinas, with survival rates worse than those of other ethnic groups in this country, the pattern of adherence to the prescribed radiation treatment among Latina patients seen at Los Angeles County Hospital were studied. Methods. The records of 69 consecutive Latina patients with cervical cancer who received radiation therapy at Los Angeles County Hospital were reviewed. Semi‐structured interviews in a successive group of 30 similar patients were conducted to acquire preliminary information about their psychosocial characteristics. Results. The results demonstrate inferior rates of optimal adherence to radiation treatment among Latina immigrant patients when compared with the rates reported in the literature for the general population of cervical cancer patients in United States (16 vs. 63%). Furthermore, a large subset of patients (20%) in the series elected to discontinue treatment without a medical reason. When a comparable group of Latina patients was interviewed, potential practical, psychologic, and cultural barriers to optimal care were identified. Conclusions. The results from this exploratory study support the need for further studies to document the pattern of adherence to radiotherapy in the rest of the country among this minority population. The results suggest that an intervention to improve information and adherence to radiation therapy may be necessary to assure Latinas a chance for rates of cure comparable with the national standards. Cancer 1995;75:1135–40. Copyright © 1995 American Cancer Society

Author Keywords

Cervical cancer Latinas adherence radiation therapy

Index Keywords

immigrant human cancer survival priority journal Aged Hispanic Americans beam therapy female Aged, 80 and over brachytherapy uterine cervix carcinoma Cervix Neoplasms Radiotherapy Article patient compliance major clinical study adult Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Interviews Emigration and Immigration Middle Age
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0028931614&doi=10.1002%2f1097-0142%2819950301%2975%3a5%3c1135%3a%3aAID-CNCR2820750513%3e3.0.CO%3b2-M&partnerID=40&md5=dd0e94babba3bde83dc71dda5e584706
DOI: 10.1002/1097-0142(19950301)75:5<1135::AID-CNCR2820750513>3.0.CO;2-M
ISSN: 0008543X
Cited by: 23
Original Language: English