Supportive Care in Cancer
Volume 27, Issue 9, 2019, Pages 3431-3438

Patient perspectives on adapting meaning-centered psychotherapy in advanced cancer for the Chinese immigrant population (Article)

Leng J.* , Lui F. , Huang X. , Breitbart W. , Gany F.
  • a Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States, Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States
  • b Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States, Department of Clinical Psychology, The City College of New York, New York, NY, United States
  • c Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
  • d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States
  • e Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Center, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, United States, Department of Healthcare Policy and Research, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, United States

Abstract

The Chinese immigrant community faces multiple obstacles to effective cancer support and psychosocial care post diagnosis. Meaning-centered psychotherapy (MCP) is an empirically based treatment (EBT) that has been found to significantly reduce psychological distress while increasing spiritual well-being and a sense of meaning and purpose in life in patients with advanced cancer. However, it has not yet been adapted for Chinese immigrants who have unique linguistic and cultural needs. This study presents a community needs assessment to inform the cultural adaptation of MCP for Chinese patients with advanced cancer using Bernal et al.’s ecological validity model and the cultural adaptation process model of Domenech-Rodriquez and Weiling. Interviews were conducted until saturation with 12 Chinese immigrants with advanced cancer to determine the community’s needs and preferences regarding the MCP intervention. Transcripts were translated and analyzed using Atlas.ti and six frequently occurring themes were identified: Coping; End of Life; Family; Culture, Religion, and Language; Immigration; and Specific Adaptations to MCP. Sociocultural values, beliefs, and practices such as filial piety and the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) should be considered when adapting EBTs for Chinese immigrant cancer patients. © 2019, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.

Author Keywords

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

Index Keywords

anxiety cultural anthropology immigrant Chinese cancer patient convenience sample adaptation neoplasm Neoplasms human middle aged health belief Asian continental ancestry group coping behavior priority journal Aged Adaptation, Psychological language psychosocial care religion procedures psychotherapy United States Humans migrant family psychology male Emigrants and Immigrants semi structured interview Chinese medicine female Terminal Care very elderly meaning centered psychotherapy cultural factor therapy Article major clinical study adult grounded theory Psychosocial Support Systems community assessment social class advanced cancer
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85060334722&doi=10.1007%2fs00520-019-4638-2&partnerID=40&md5=d45e6d4aee07c09c94d46658a85e4931
DOI: 10.1007/s00520-019-4638-2
ISSN: 09414355
Original Language: English