title: Development of a Culturally Competent Service to Improve Academic Functioning for Latino Survivors of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Methodological Considerations.
abstract: Many survivors of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) develop neurocognitive deficits that compromise academic functioning, especially in the presence of sociodemographic risk factors. The extent to which these risk factors coexist for Latino ALL survivors is not well described, but with shifts in U.S. demographics and improved survival in ALL, culturally competent interventions are needed. The Achieving Best Cognitive Successes after Cancer service was designed and implemented by a team representing nursing, medicine, psychology, and social work. Service components include neurocognitve assessment and individualized intervention for treatment-related risks and improving academic success for school-aged ALL survivors. Interventions are child-focused and parent-directed, recognizing that parents are major sources of support and advocates for their children within school systems. The service was designed to be culturally appropriate for the predominantly Latino patient population at our center, based on (1) linguistic competency of children and parents; (2) multicultural and ecological considerations for urban, low socioeconomic status, and migrant populations; (3) literacy barriers; and (4) contextual factors. This report describes methodological considerations and practice implications relevant to the design and implementation of similar culturally competent services for Latino pediatric cancer survivors.
authors.affiliation: 1 Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bava
authors.affiliation: 1 Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|2 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Alexis
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Johns
authors.affiliation: 1 Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|2 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Freyer
authors.affiliation: 2 University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.|3 Azusa Pacific University, Azusa, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruccione
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D016487:Parenting / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000451:nursing*; D012574:Schools; D012944:Social Support; D017741:Survivors / Q000523:psychology*
keywords: cancer; cultural competency; diversity; survivorship