Aim
Conduct a systematic review and focus groups exploring the challenges and unmet needs experienced by the Australian Chinese community affected by cancer. Produce in-language webinars and resources addressing the identified unmet needs.
Methods
Systematic review - Database, reference list, and author searches were conducted to identify studies reporting information needs of the Chinese community affected by cancer. Data synthesis was undertaken to define categories of information needs.
Focus groups - Mandarin and Cantonese speaking adult cancer survivors and carers, were recruited through community cancer support organisations. Focus groups were conducted, audio-recorded, transcribed, translated into English and thematically analysed using qualitative methods.
Results
Chinese migrant cancer survivors and carers face multiple barriers to accessing quality cancer information and support and exhibit worse cancer and psycho-social outcomes than Australian-born cancer patients. Barriers include sub-optimal health literacy, difficulties navigating the healthcare system, linguistic and cultural barriers. Information and support unmet needs include the themes of trust, wellness and rights. In-language webinars & resources have been produced and are available online and on DVD.
Conclusions
This study provides new insights into the impact of language, culture and health literacy barriers on the unmet information and support needs of the Chinese community affected by cancer living in Australia. This community will benefit from accurate information about cancer and personal stories of cancer survivors in their native language. These findings underscore the importance that the voices of migrants are heard to ensure that health care systems provide best practice, culturally appropriate care. It also highlights the need to collaborate with the Chinese community to develop and implement culturally appropriate interventions and improve access to coordinated and quality cancer support for Chinese migrants’ affected by cancer.
Funding
The Chinese webinar project is a Cancer Australia Supporting people with cancer Grant initiative, funded by the Australian Government.