Difficulties faced by Cantonese caregivers of family and friends with cancer in the States

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Yuk Kay Ng, Program Evaluation and Quality Assurance Associate, CancerCare, 275 7th Ave, 12/F, New York, NY 10001, 2127128357, kng@cancercare.org, Floyd Allen, MSW, Social Service, CancerCare, 275 7th Ave, 22/F, New York, NY 10001, and Les Gallo-Silver, ACSW, LCSW-R, Social Services, Cancer, 275 7th Ave, 22/F, New York, NY 10001.

Cultural differences and immigrant status are believed to contribute to more isolation, lower attention and verbal expression to emotional distress for Chinese caregivers in the States. A focus group of caregivers of Cantonese descent was convened to learn more about the difficulties they experience in taking care of their family or friends with cancer.

In response, the two biggest challenges identified for the caregivers were 1) communication with the healthcare team and 2) knowledge of patients' bill of rights. Without basic knowledge of the current medical and treatment movement in patient care and with them seeing their doctors as an authority figure, caregivers and patients were not able to collaborate with their doctors to make treatment decisions as a team. Language barriers, misunderstanding in medical insurance and clinical trials were also common problems caregivers encountered.

Caregivers also noted that they felt more exhausted and stressed taking care of family and friends with cancer than taking care of other patients. Home care aide and transportation assistance would be helpful to them. Stress management skills, counseling, emotional support were also crucial for their own well-being.

Consciousness of being from a different ethnic group might affect caregivers from providing appropriate care for their loved ones afflicted with cancer. Support groups or workshops on culturally-sensitive issues may help them look at things from a different perspective and be more proactive in seeking help within the American care system. Meanwhile, it would also allow healthcare professionals to gain more understanding towards different ethnic groups.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to

- Identify the 2 biggest caregiving problems encounted by caregivers in Cantonese descent of family or friends with cancer
- List out other problems they encountered
- Recognize cultural differences and conflicts between the Cantonese caregivers and the American health system
- Develop possible helpful ways to aide caregivers from different ethnic groups
- Discuss the gap between healthcare professionals' understanding towards minority groups and minority groups' actual needs.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered

Health Care Interventions for Refugee and Immigrant Populations

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA