Chinese‐Australian women with breast cancer call for culturally appropriate information and improved communication with health professionals

Abstract

Background: For culturally and linguistically diverse patients, breast cancer presents complex physical, psychosocial, and health care challenges, often exacerbated by a lack of culturally appropriate information and communication barriers with the treating team (even with the help of interpreters).Aim: This qualitative study aims to broadly explore the experience of breast cancer and coping strategies utilized by Chinese-Australian women.Methods and results: Twenty-four Chinese-Australian women with breast cancer participated in either a semi-structured interview or a focus group conducted in participants' preferred language, audio-recorded, transcribed, and subjected to thematic analysis. Two prominent themes emerged, related to information seeking, and communication with health care professionals. The theme of information needs and seeking highlighted unmet information needs and the multiple sources that are consulted for information. The second theme, communication with health care professionals, language barriers, and preferences, identified varying degrees of involvement in treatment decision-making, preference for information and interactions in Cantonese or Mandarin, and problems with interpreter services.Conclusion: Chinese women with breast cancer face significant challenges in obtaining adequate information and can feel excluded from treatment decision-making. Women in this study expressed their eagerness for obtaining accurate information and engaging in open communication with their doctors. There is a need for culturally sensitive information resources and decision aids to enhance communication between Chinese migrant patients with cancer and health care professionals. Clinician participation in cultural awareness training is also recommended.

Moving beyond translation: Development of WeCope, a self‐management resource for Chinese‐Australian immigrants affected by cancer

“…This feedback aligns with previous review findings that treatment-related information is among the most commonly reported unmet information needs (Lim et al, 2017;Wu et al, 2020). Chinese immigrants have reported receiving less information than desired (Levesque et al, 2020;Shaw et al, 2015), or information only being available in English (Kwok & White, 2014). Consequently, lack of access to information combined with limited English-language proficiency can impede informed treatment decision-making (Shaw et al, 2015).…”

“…This may be attributed to doctors spending more time communicating with the interpreter rather than the patient or family member themselves. Consequently, patients and caregivers may not have the opportunity to ask all their questions due to interpreter and clinician time constraints Levesque et al, 2020). Having a QPL may facilitate more direct communication with clinicians, shortening the time needed for an interpreter to generate questions and interpret responses.…”

“…Immigrant patients reported inadequate information about treatments, while caregivers reported lack of accurate and consistent information about cancer. Additionally, qualitative studies indicate that Chinese-Australian immigrants experience cultural and linguistic isolation, difficulty navigating the Australian healthcare system, and challenges communicating with their doctor, resulting in inferior emotional and physical care (Hyatt et al, 2017;Kwok & White, 2011;Levesque et al, 2020). Chinese caregivers, an often neglected group, also experience anxiety and burden associated with their caregiving role (Li et al, 2015).…”

Resection or Preservation? A Tough Surgical Decision for Chinese Breast Cancer Patients Who Are in Line with Breast Conserving

“…[29] In addition, Chinese obedience to authority makes women don't dare to ask health professions directly for fear of asking silly questions or being labeled as a "bad patient". [30] Women may prefer health professional to provide clear information without ask to many questions. [31] Therefor, health professions need to discuss the practical, longer-term real-world challenges associated with each of the surgical treatment options with patients.…”

Resection or Preservation? A Tough Surgical Decision for Chinese Breast Cancer Patients Who are in Line with Breast Conserving

“…[28] In addition, Chinese obedience to authority makes women don't dare to ask health professions directly for fear of asking silly questions or being labeled as a "bad patient". [29] Women may prefer health professional to provide clear information without ask to many questions. [30] Therefor, health professions need to discuss the practical, longer-term real-world challenges associated with each of the surgical treatment options with patients.…”