Abstract:Breast cancer among Filipinas in the United States is a major but largely neglected cancer disparity. In 2004, a community– university partnership resulted in the first Filipina breast cancer support group in the San Francisco Bay Area. Building on this partnership, we explored the social and cultural contexts of Filipinas’ experiences with breast cancer to inform development of culturally appropriate and sustainable support services and outreach. We utilized multiple qualitative methods (participant observati… Show more
“…It is also of importance that we found in this study that religious beliefs and practices provided emotional support for the women to cope with breast cancer. Several researchers have shown that religious practices allow women with breast cancer to cope better, thus enhancing their emotional well-being (Burke, Villero, & Guerra, 2012;Cebeci, Yangın, & Tekeli, 2012;Drageset, Lindstrom, & Underlid, 2010;Harandy et al, 2010;Holt, 2009;Liamputtong & Suwankhong, 2015;Yoo et al, 2010). The women observed Buddhist principles in their lives as a means of dealing with their health condition.…”
Purpose: To discuss social support among women with breast cancer in rural communities in southern Thailand. Design: Qualitative research that allowed researchers to understand the lived experiences of women living with breast cancer and social support. Methods: In-depth interviewing and drawing methods were adopted with 20 women with breast cancer. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings: Most women with breast cancer received three types of social support: emotional support, tangible support, and informational support. Most support came from family members and relatives. Religion was also a form of social support for women. Many women, however, received insufficient social support from healthcare providers. This reduced their capacity to manage their illness, thus impacting their well-being. Conclusions: Various forms of support are essential for women with breast cancer so that they can better cope with their condition. Clinical Relevance: Nurses and other health professionals are an important source of social support for women with breast cancer. Through having an understanding of and being sensitive to these women's experiences, culture, and challenges, nurses and healthcare professionals can provide more individualized support and care to women during a vulnerable period of their life. We contend that the cultural perspectives of patients are crucial in nursing science. Nurses need to appreciate the importance of culture for the support of patients with breast cancer.
“…It is also of importance that we found in this study that religious beliefs and practices provided emotional support for the women to cope with breast cancer. Several researchers have shown that religious practices allow women with breast cancer to cope better, thus enhancing their emotional well-being (Burke, Villero, & Guerra, 2012;Cebeci, Yangın, & Tekeli, 2012;Drageset, Lindstrom, & Underlid, 2010;Harandy et al, 2010;Holt, 2009;Liamputtong & Suwankhong, 2015;Yoo et al, 2010). The women observed Buddhist principles in their lives as a means of dealing with their health condition.…”
Purpose: To discuss social support among women with breast cancer in rural communities in southern Thailand. Design: Qualitative research that allowed researchers to understand the lived experiences of women living with breast cancer and social support. Methods: In-depth interviewing and drawing methods were adopted with 20 women with breast cancer. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze the data. Findings: Most women with breast cancer received three types of social support: emotional support, tangible support, and informational support. Most support came from family members and relatives. Religion was also a form of social support for women. Many women, however, received insufficient social support from healthcare providers. This reduced their capacity to manage their illness, thus impacting their well-being. Conclusions: Various forms of support are essential for women with breast cancer so that they can better cope with their condition. Clinical Relevance: Nurses and other health professionals are an important source of social support for women with breast cancer. Through having an understanding of and being sensitive to these women's experiences, culture, and challenges, nurses and healthcare professionals can provide more individualized support and care to women during a vulnerable period of their life. We contend that the cultural perspectives of patients are crucial in nursing science. Nurses need to appreciate the importance of culture for the support of patients with breast cancer.
“…Much research has explored cultural differences in survivorship experience and meaning [5–10]. A growing literature is applying these understandings to the development and implementation of SCPs with the aim of infusing SCPs with the perspectives of patients [11–13].…”
PurposeDespite the Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) 2005 recommendation, few care organizations have instituted standard survivorship care plans (SCPs). Low health literacy and low English proficiency are important factors to consider in SCP development. Our study aimed to identify information needs and survivorship care plan preferences of low literacy, multi-lingual patients to support the transition from oncology to primary care and ongoing learning in survivorship.MethodsWe conducted focus groups in five languages with African American, Latina, Russian, Filipina, White, and Chinese medically underserved breast cancer patients. Topics explored included the transition to primary care, access to information, knowledge of treatment history, and perspectives on SCPs.ResultsAnalysis of focus group data identified three themes: 1) the need for information and education on the transition between “active treatment” and “survivorship”; 2) information needed (and often not obtained) from providers; and 3) perspectives on SCP content and delivery.ConclusionsOur data point to the need to develop a process as well as written information for medically underserved breast cancer patients. An SCP document will not replace direct communication with providers about treatment, symptom management and transition, a communication that is missing in participating safety-net patients’ experiences of cancer care. Women turned to peer support and community-based organizations in the absence of information from providers.Implications for Cancer Survivors“Clear and effective” communication of survivorship care for safety-net patients requires dedicated staff trained to address wide-ranging information needs and uncertainties.
“…This could be because women in our study included many who were American-born and acculturated, and therefore more aware of resources that allowed them to reach out to others for social support. However, like other studies of Asian American women with cancer, the respondents in our study chose to take care of day-to-day responsibilities by themselves [13, 24]. With the right balance, the women in this study found that caretaking and work created a sense of normalcy that helped them cope with their breast cancer diagnosis and treatment.…”
In recent years, breast cancer rates among young Asian American women have been increasing. Despite increases in breast cancer among young Asian American women, little is known about how this population copes throughout diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. This study was a qualitative exploration of how young Asian American women cope with breast cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. In-depth interviews with 22 young (under the age of 50) Asian American women diagnosed with early stage breast cancer were conducted. Through qualitative data analysis, three major themes emerged including moving from managing the emotions of others to expressing emotional vulnerability, moving from work and productivity to work-life balance, and moving beyond the family and reaching out to breast cancer survivors. At diagnosis, participants worked to maintain normalcy including caring for others and working during treatment. Once treatment was over, women worked to find ways to use their experience as a transformative one and also to develop more positive coping skills including expressing emotional vulnerability and reaching out to others. Further studies are needed to create and test culturally tailored supportive interventions that enhance positive coping tools among young Asian American women diagnosed by breast cancer.
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