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Stall M, Germann JN, Orta M, Winick N, Kaye EC. Equitable communication for pediatric cancer patients and families who speak languages other than English. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024; 71:e30828. [PMID: 38146021 PMCID: PMC10831864 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/27/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Stall
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Julie N. Germann
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, Dallas, TX, USA
- Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Department of Psychiatry, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Martin Orta
- Children’s Medical Center Dallas, Department of Language Access Services, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Naomi Winick
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Division of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Erica C. Kaye
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Department of Oncology, Memphis, TN, USA
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Smith SM, Teer A, Tolamatl Ariceaga E, Billman E, Benedict C, Goyal A, Pang EM, Pecos-Duarte C, Lewinsohn R, Smith M, Boynton H, Montes S, Rivera E, Ramirez D, Schapira L. A qualitative study of childhood cancer families' post-treatment needs and the impact of a community-based organization in a rural, socioeconomically disadvantaged, majority Hispanic/Latino region. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2024; 71:e30798. [PMID: 38053230 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.30798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individual- and population-level socioeconomic disadvantages contribute to unequal outcomes among childhood cancer survivors. Reducing health disparities requires understanding experiences of survivors from historically marginalized communities, including those with non-English language preference. PROCEDURE We partnered with a community-based organization (CBO) serving families of children with cancer in a rural region in California with low socioeconomic status and majority Hispanic/Latino (H/L) residents. We interviewed English- and Spanish-speaking adolescent/young adult (AYA) childhood cancer survivors (≥15 years old, ≥5 years from diagnosis), parents, and CBO staff to evaluate post-treatment needs and impact of CBO support. Data were analyzed qualitatively using applied thematic analysis. Themes were refined through team discussions with our community partners. RESULTS Twelve AYAs (11 H/L, 11 bilingual), 11 parents (eight H/L, seven non-English preferred), and seven CBO staff (five H/L, five bilingual) participated. AYAs (five female, seven male) were of median (min-max) age 20 (16-32) and 9 (5-19) years post diagnosis; parents (nine female, two male) were age 48 (40-60) and 14 (6-23) years post child's diagnosis. Themes included challenges navigating healthcare, communication barriers among the parent-AYA-clinician triad, and lasting effects of childhood cancer on family dynamics and mental health. Subthemes illustrated that language and rurality may contribute to health disparities. CBO support impacted families by serving as a safety-net, fostering community, and facilitating H/L families' communication. CONCLUSIONS Childhood cancer has long-lasting effects on families, and those with non-English language preference face additional burdens. Community-based support buffers some of the negative effects of childhood cancer and may reduce disparities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M Smith
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Anmol Teer
- UC Berkeley School of Public Health, Berkeley, California, USA
| | | | - Elle Billman
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Catherine Benedict
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Anju Goyal
- Division of Hematology, Oncology, Stem Cell Transplantation & Regenerative Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
| | - Emily M Pang
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Caroline Pecos-Duarte
- Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
- University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Rebecca Lewinsohn
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Mary Smith
- Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, Watsonville, California, USA
| | - Heidi Boynton
- Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, Watsonville, California, USA
| | - Sandy Montes
- Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, Watsonville, California, USA
| | - Esmeralda Rivera
- Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, Watsonville, California, USA
| | - Daniela Ramirez
- Jacob's Heart Children's Cancer Support Services, Watsonville, California, USA
| | - Lidia Schapira
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California, USA
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