title: Communication challenges experienced by migrants with cancer: A comparison of migrant and English-speaking Australian-born cancer patients.
abstract: Understanding the difficulties faced by different migrant groups is vital to address disparities and inform targeted health-care service delivery. Migrant oncology patients experience increased morbidity, mortality and psychological distress, with this tentatively linked to language and communication difficulties. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate the communication barriers and challenges experienced by Arabic, Greek and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese) speaking oncology patients in Australia.
  
  
  
  This study employed a cross-sectional design using patient-reported outcome survey data from migrant and English-speaking Australian-born patients with cancer. Patients were recruited through oncology clinics and Australian state cancer registries. Data were collected regarding patient clinical and demographic characteristics and health-care and communication experiences. Data from the clinics and registries were combined for analysis.
  
  
  
  Significant differences were found between migrant groups in demographic characteristics, communication and health-care experiences, and information and care preferences. Chinese patients cited problems with understanding medical information, the Australian health-care system, and communicating with their health-care team. Conversely, Arabic- and Greek-speaking patients reported higher understanding of the health-care system, and less communication difficulties.
  
  
  
  Our study findings suggest that migrant groups differ from each other in their health communication expectations and requirements. Lower education and health literacy of some groups may play a role in poorer health outcomes. Public health interventions and assistance provided to migrants should be tailored to the specific needs and characteristics of that language or cultural group. Future research directions are discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Amelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hyatt
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Ruby
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lipson-Smith
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Department of Psychology, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, Arts and Design, Swinburne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.|Melbourne School of Psychological Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Schofield
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Department of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry, and Health Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Karla
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Gough
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Ming
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sze
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Lynley
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aldridge
authors.affiliation: Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Prince of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Cancer Experiences Research, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.|Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic., Australia.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jefford
authors.affiliation: Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Melanie L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.|Centre for Medical Psychology and Evidence-Based Decision-Making, School of Psychology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Phyllis
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Butow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D054521:Cultural Competency; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D057240:Patient Preference / Q000523:psychology; D017060:Patient Satisfaction / Q000208:ethnology; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D014171:Transients and Migrants / Q000523:psychology*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cancer; communication; health literacy; healthcare; migrant; oncology