Goals and Objectives: The overall purpose of the study was to assess Hispanic and white, non-Hispanic attitudes, beliefs, practices and preferences of Hispanic and white, non-Hispanic women toward the various techniques used to control their pain, anxiety, or tension caused by the experience of having cancer or cancer treatments including selected relaxation techniques adapted from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research Management for Cancer Pain publication.
Methodology The focus groups were used obtain data about the feelings and opinions of a small group of representative Hispanic and White, non-Hispanic women cancer patients who had undergone surgery and had to deal with some amount of pain due to cancer or its treatment. The focus group approach resulted in three-step process: conducting think-alouds with participants; pre-testing the content and translation of the selected relaxation techniques script and survey; and pre-testing certain probes designed to obtain some insight into the underlying thought processes used by respondents.
Results: Based on the feedback received from the focus group participants, there were several changes made in the content of the deep breathing and guided imagery techniques originally obtained from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research guidelines. During the focus groups, participants indicated that they wanted the inclusion of two additional templates that focused on a spiritual and general theme.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to: 1.List top five techniques Anglo and Hispanic women reported using to decrease pain and anxiety due to cancer and cancer treatment. 2.Articulate the process used for assessing the knowledge, belief and attitude regarding use of standard relaxation techniques. 3. Develop a relaxation technique relavant to Anglo and Hispanic women are beginning cancer treatment or who have cancer-related pain.
Keywords: Alternative Medicine/Therapies, Hispanic
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: UT M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.