title: Identifying the informational and psychosocial needs of Chinese immigrant cancer patients: a focus group study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Chinese immigrant community faces multiple barriers to quality cancer care and cancer survivorship. Psychosocial interventions can positively impact quality of life, anxiety, and distress in cancer patients. In this study, we explored the informational and psychosocial needs of Chinese cancer patients to inform the development of culturally targeted support and survivorship interventions.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted four focus groups with a total of 28 Chinese cancer patients to elucidate their cancer informational and psychosocial needs. The groups were conducted using standard methodology and guided by community-based participatory research principles. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed, and translated into English. The research team conducted the analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Frequently occurring themes included (1) the need for accurate information on cancer and treatment options, (2) the role of language barriers in accessing cancer care, (3) the role of food in cancer and the need for nutritional information, and (4) the role of Chinese medicine in cancer treatment. Participants expressed significant dissatisfaction with the amount, reliability, and/or comprehensibility of available information.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Support groups and programs should be developed to address participants' needs for more information on cancer and its treatment. Programs should educate and empower patients on how to find further Chinese language information and resources and effectively communicate their questions and needs to providers in an interpreted encounter. System-level approaches should be implemented to ensure provision of interpretation services. Additionally, programs should incorporate the unique cultural needs of this population related to food/nutrition and Chinese medicine.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Center for Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E. 66th Street, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10065, USA. lengj@mskcc.org
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leng
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Umut
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Sarpel
authors.forename: Jessy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Yanjun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Connie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Ming-der
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gany
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001213:Asian / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China / Q000208:ethnology; D003144:Communication Barriers; D054242:Emigrants and Immigrants / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology*; D009519:New York City; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology*