Providing outpatient cancer care for CALD patients: a qualitative study

Abstract

Objective There have been few descriptions of how outpatient cancer care is provided to patients from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. As populations who experience disparities in cancer care access and outcomes, deeper understanding is needed to help identify those factors which can shape the receipt of multidisciplinary care in ambulatory settings. This paper reports on data collected and analysed as part of a multicentre characterisation of care in Australian public hospital cancer outpatient clinics (OPCs). Results Analysis of data from our ethnographic study of four OPCs identified three themes: “Identifying CALD patient language-related needs”; “Capacity and resources to meet CALD patient needs”, and “Making it work for CALD communities.” The care team comprises not only clinicians but also families and non-clinical staff; OPCs serve as “touchpoints” facilitating access to a range of therapeutic services. The findings highlight the potential challenges oncology professionals negotiate in providing care to CALD communities and the ways in which clinicians adapt their practices, formulate strategies and use available resources to support care delivery.

An integrated interpreting service normalizes access to care for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) patients with colorectal cancer

“…With increasing ease of transportation and global population mobility, these issues will only increase with time. Barriers to timely access to treatment may include the lack of understanding due to limited English proficiency (LEP), low health literacy, or anticipated or experienced racial prejudice 9 . As an example, language barriers have been shown to be an impediment to breast cancer treatment in the United States with delays in communicating mammogram results to LEP patients 10,11 …”

“…Barriers to timely access to treatment may include the lack of understanding due to limited English proficiency (LEP), low health literacy, or anticipated or experienced racial prejudice. 9 As an example, language barriers have been shown to be an impediment to breast cancer treatment in the United States with delays in communicating mammogram results to LEP patients. 10,11 Data for colorectal cancer are limited, but from the United States appear to show a disparity between ethnicity in access to timely care.…”

The Road Less Traveled: Perspective From an Australian Oncologist

“…An Australian study looking at CALD needs in outpatient cancer clinics highlighted the importance of recognizing language-related needs and care teams adapting practices and available resources to make it work for CALD communities. 9 Work in other CALD groups has also focused on the triadic relationship between the patient, the patient's family, and physicians. 10 Latin American women who were less acculturated deferred to their families or friends to make treatment decisions, highlighting the importance of familism as one of the most culturally specific values for Latinas.…”

“…An Australian study looking at CALD needs in outpatient cancer clinics highlighted the importance of recognizing language-related needs and care teams adapting practices and available resources to make it work for CALD communities. 9…”