title: Oncology health workers' views and experiences on caring for ethnic minority patients: A mixed method systematic review.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate what published research reveals about the views and experiences of oncology health workers when caring for ethnic minority patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies.
  
  
  METHODS
  The following databases were systematically screened: PubMed, CINAHL, Web of Science, and AnthroSource. Reference lists were checked for additional articles.
  
  
  METHODS
  Empirical studies or systematic reviews (1/2000 to 12/2013) were included if they concerned the oncology setting and the views or experiences of healthcare workers and care users belonging to an ethnic or cultural minority group. The methodological quality of each individual study was assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme for Qualitative Studies and the Quality Assessment Tool for Quantitative Studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen publications met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen articles had a qualitative, four a quantitative, and one a mixed methods design. The results in the individual studies were heterogeneous. Most studies reported challenges or barriers when caring for ethnic minority patients, whereas fewer than half of the articles discussed facilitating factors and opportunities. Oncology health workers participating in the included studies sought to provide professional standards of care and tried to adapt care to the needs of ethnic minority patients. However, they experienced formidable communication barriers and they feared doing things that might be considered culturally insensitive. The organizational aspects of care for the oncology patient appeared to have a significant influence on how healthcare providers view and experience oncology care for ethnic minority patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Views and experiences of participating oncology health workers were characterized by a willingness to provide proper care for ethnic minority patients, but this was hampered by a tangle of interrelated issues such as linguistic barriers, fear and uncertainty, and assumptions about cultural matters. Organizational aspects were shown to be a strong influence on healthcare workers caring for ethnic minority patients. Due to methodological limitations of the included studies, conclusions should be viewed with caution.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Belgium. Electronic address: ineke.vaneechoud@ugent.be.
authors.forename: Ineke J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: van Eechoud
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Mieke
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Grypdonck
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Beeckman
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Aurélie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Lancker
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Ann
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Hecke
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University Centre for Nursing and Midwifery, Ghent University, Belgium.
authors.forename: Sofie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Verhaeghe
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005006:Ethnicity; D006801:Humans; D008913:Minority Groups; D009859:Oncology Nursing
keywords: Attitude of healthcare personnel; Cultural diversity; Experiences; Health personnel; Medical oncology; Minority groups; Perception; Systematic review; Views