Healthcare Communication Experiences of Hispanic Caregivers of Childhood Cancer Survivors

Autor: Carol Y. Ochoa-Dominguez, Matthew P. Banegas, Kimberly A. Miller, Carlos Orellana Garcia, Daniel Sabater-Minarim, Randall Y. Chan
Jazyk: angličtina
Rok vydání: 2024
Předmět:
Zdroj: Healthcare, Vol 12, Iss 13, p 1307 (2024)
Druh dokumentu: article
ISSN: 2227-9032
86676806
DOI: 10.3390/healthcare12131307
Popis: Background: Interpersonal communication is a crucial component of the cancer experience that can contribute to managing cancer care and improving cancer survivors’ and caregivers’ quality of life. Cultural and contextual factors may impact Hispanic childhood cancer survivor (CCS) and parent caregiver relationships and communication. This study sought to describe the healthcare communication experiences of Hispanic parents with CCS, families, and medical providers. Methods: We conducted 15 semi-structured interviews with Hispanic caregivers from a safety-net hospital in Los Angeles County. Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish, audio-recorded and professionally transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic approach. Results: Caregivers shared the importance and impact of medical communication when exploring the “first big talk” of the diagnosis, uncertainty about treatment, navigating multiple providers, therapeutic communication (i.e., providing emotional reassurance), and current and lingering effects of cancer. All caregivers shared “good communication” experiences, while others shared various barriers to communication, including a lack of understanding of the cancer diagnosis and caregiver experience, psychological challenges impacting communication, cultural and language differences, physical factors that limit communication, and young age of child impacting communication with caregivers. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that a strong interpersonal communication skill set for clinicians can contribute to managing cancer care and improving caregivers’ psychological adjustment.
Databáze: Directory of Open Access Journals