Patient ethnicity: a key predictor of cancer care satisfaction.
BACKGROUND
Research in cancer care satisfaction itself is scarce; investigation of the role of ethnicity in care satisfaction is even rarer.


OBJECTIVE
The present study examined relationships between ethnicity and satisfaction with care in a sample of 759 patients diagnosed with three different types of cancer (lung, head and neck, or gynecologic) from a large tertiary cancer hospital.


METHODS
Respondents filled out an assessment package that consisted of demographics, the Ware Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire-III (PSQ-III), 17 additional items constructed by the research team to examine other specific areas of satisfaction, and the Psychological Screen for Cancer (PSSCAN) Part C, to measure anxiety and depression.


RESULTS
In a multivariate analysis, being non-White emerged as the primary predictor variable (beyond patient age, gender, marital status, education, cancer site, duration of illness, and presence or absence of metastases) of several of the PSQ-III satisfaction subscales. Conclusion. Health care systems must consider how to become more responsive to the needs of all individuals, regardless of their ethnic background and levels of acculturation.
Thomas
Bejoy C
BC
Department of Psychosocial Resources, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, Alberta, Canada. bejoyct@gmail.com
Groff
Shannon L
SL
Tsang
Kathy
K
Carlson
Linda E
LE
D000368:Aged; D000416:Alberta; D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000628:therapy*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires