Despite mixed results due to measurement heterogeneity, results of the present review highlight the importance of training physicians and patients to engage in higher quality communication with black and racially discordant patients by focusing on improving patient-centeredness, information-giving, partnership building, and patient engagement in communication processes.

Introduction:The COVID-19 pandemic can have important psychosocial consequences in the population. Objective: To determine the levels anxiety and depression symptoms and self-care behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic in the general population. Method: Online survey distributed over three weeks using a non-probability sampling. The PHQ-9 Patient Health Questionnaire, the GAD-7 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale and a self-care behaviors visual analogue scale were used. Between-group (anxiety and depression) descriptive and comparison analyses were carried out. Results: Out of 1508 included participants, 20.8 % had symptoms of severe anxiety, while 27.5 % showed symptoms of severe depression. Being a woman, being single, having no children, having medical comorbidities and a history of mental health care were associated with the presence of higher levels of anxiety and depression symptoms; 66 to 80 % of the population complied with self-care recommendations. A need for receiving mental health care was identified in our study population. Conclusion: A larger number of individuals with moderate to severe anxiety and depression symptoms were observed than in other pandemics. COVID-19 pandemic psychological effects are considered an emerging public mental health problem, and implementation of programs for their care is therefore recommended.

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Going through adverse life events can help a person learn how to cope with life’s challenges, overcome them, learn from the adverse experiences, grow, and be positively transformed by them. Spirituality is a resource that supports adaptation and resilience to improve quality of life in patients with cancer or other chronic illnesses. For Latinos, spirituality is an important core cultural value. As such, it is crucial to pay close attention to how cultural values play a role in health-related concerns when caring for Latino cancer patients, and to how spirituality, being an important aspect of Latino culture, influences how Latinos adjust and cope with cancer. Understanding how to facilitate resilience in the face of potentially negative life events, such as cancer, can not only help Latino cancer patients in active treatment, but can also impact effectiveness of managing and coping with the consequences of cancer during survivorship.

Objective Treatment adherence, with minimal numbers of missed appointments, is an important determinant of survival among cancer patients. This study aims to determine if unmet financial, logistic and supportive care needs predict self-reported adherence to cancer treatment appointments of chemotherapy and/or radiation among low-income ethnic minority patients. Design The sample included 1098 underserved Latino and Black patients recruited from cancer clinics in New York City through the Cancer Portal Project (CPP). Participants completed a survey which included sociodemographic, health-related questions and a needs assessment, in their preferred language. Patients’ adherence to chemotherapy and/or radiation treatment appointments was assessed using a self-report. Results A sample of 1098 patients (581 Latino and 517 Black cancer patients) was recruited. Forty-two Latino cancer patients (7.4%) and seventy-eight Black cancer patients (15.5%) reported missing treatment appointments. Patients, who experienced four or more unmet needs (OR's=2.02-3.36), and those with unmet housing needs (OR's=3.10-3.31), were more likely to report missing cancer treatment appointments, regardless of their ethnicity/race. Black patients with unmet supportive care (OR=2.27) and health insurance needs (OR=3.80) were more likely to miss appointments. Amongst Latinos, legal health-related issues (OR=2.51) was a significant predictor of missed appointments. Conclusions Among ethnic minority cancer patients, unmet socioeconomic and supportive care needs, housing needs in particular, predicted patient-reported missed radiation and/or chemotherapy appointments. Future research should focus on exploring the impact of practical and supportive unmet needs on adherence and development of interventions aiming to improve cancer treatment adherence.