A qualitative exploration of race‐based differences in social support needs of diverse women with breast cancer on adjuvant therapy

Abstract

Objective Social support is a critical component of breast cancer care and is associated with clinical and quality of life outcomes. Significant health disparities exist between Black and White women with breast cancer. Our study used qualitative methods to explore the social support needs of Black and White women with hormone receptor‐positive breast cancer on adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET). Methods We conducted four focus group (FG) interviews (N = 28), stratified by race (ie, Black and White) and time on AET. FGs were audiotaped, transcribed, and analyzed according to conventions of thematic analysis. Results Participants noted the importance of having their informational and emotional social support needs met by friends and family members. White participants reported support provided by others with breast cancer was crucial; Black women did not discuss other survivors as part of their networks. Notably, both White and Black participants used the FG environment to provide experiential social support to each other. Conclusions White participants noted that having other breast cancer survivors in their support network was essential for meeting their social support needs. However, Black participants did not reference other breast cancer survivors as part of their networks. Cancer centers should consider reviewing patients' access to experiential support and facilitate opportunities to connect women in the adjuvant phase.

The Association of Sources of Support, Types of Support and Satisfaction with Support Received on Perceived Stress and Quality of Life of Cancer Patients

“…Family members can assume the role of additional listeners during medical visits, thus helping to satisfy the needs for information that patients might have. 50 Furthermore, support provided by family members is a key reference point for stress management in cancer patients. Some studies have proved that the higher the patients’ perception of family support, the higher the levels of stress management.…”

Visual cues of the built environment and perceived stress among a cohort of black breast cancer survivors

“…Alternatively, associations between socioeconomic indicators and perceived stress could depend on race due to the inequitable distribution of adverse social factors by race. For example, less education might not be associated with greater stress among women who are white and who might also have access to more stress buffers such as social support and social capital compared to Black women ( Pinheiro et al, 2017 ; Paladino et al, 2019 ).…”

THRIVE study protocol: a randomized controlled trial evaluating a web-based app and tailored messages to improve adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy among women with breast cancer

“…THRIVE is a five-year study funded by the National Cancer Institute. During the first year, we completed five focus groups to refine the study protocol, app functions and content, and develop feedback messages [44]. In the second year, we launched the randomized controlled trial of a web-based app and tailored messages for women with breast cancer initiating AET.…”

“…During the formative phase of the study, we conducted focus groups with Black and White women with breast cancer to determine the optimal frequency (e.g., weekly, every other week, or monthly) and timing of messages and content (e.g., motivations, app use, AET adherence, symptom summary, relevant educational materials) [44]. These focus groups served to inform our intervention design, primarily through presentation of content to participants and allowing them to rate and provide feedback on both quality of content, utility of certain features, design aesthetic, and other methodological considerations.…”