Addressing cultural heterogeneity among Hispanic subgroups by using Campinha-Bacote's model of cultural competency

Caregivers with Cancer Patients: Focus on Hispanics

Cancer is a public health concern and causes more than 8 million deaths annually. Cancer triggers include population growth, aging, and variations in the prevalence and distribution of the critical risk factors for cancer. Multiple hallmarks are involved in cancer, including cell proliferation, evading growth suppressors, activating invasion and metastasis, resisting cell death, enabling replicative immortality, reprogramming energy metabolism, and evading immune destruction. Both cancer and dementia are age-related and potentially lethal, impacting survival. With increasing aging populations, cancer and dementia cause a burden on patients, family members, the health care system, and informal/formal caregivers. In the current article, we highlight cancer prevalence with a focus on different ethnic groups, ages, and genders. Our article covers risk factors and genetic causes associated with cancer and types of cancers and comorbidities. We extensively cover the impact of cancer in Hispanics in comparison to that in other ethnic groups. We also discuss the status of caregivers with cancer patients and urgent needs from the state and federal support for caregivers.

The ECO VI Organizational Climate Scale: An Invariance Study in Four Latin American Countries

Introduction

Cross-cultural research is fundamental for the development and validation of work and organizational theories and to guide evidence-based practices around the globe. Although organizational climate is one of the most investigated higher-level constructs in organizational psychology, there is a lack of research analysing the invariance of measurements across national cultures in Latin America. This prevents scientists and practitioners from having a deeper understanding of this variable across the different countries and cultures composing this continent.

Objectives

This study aims at examining the measurement invariance of the Encuesta de Clima Organizacional scale in its VI version (ECO VI) in Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama, and Dominican Republic.

Method

Data were gathered from 38 companies operating in the manufacturing sector based in the four abovementioned countries and the sample sizes were as follows: Colombia was represented by 1007 employees, Costa Rica by 1090 employees, Panama by 372 employees, and Dominican Republic by 213. Measurement invariance was examined by testing the configural, metric, scalar, and structural models of invariance.

Results

The results supported with empirical evidence that the ECO VI scale is characterized by measurement invariance. More precisely, 6 of its 8 dimensions are unbiasedly interpreted and can be considered for making meaningful comparisons across the considered national cultures, while the outputs deriving from the dimensions of "resources availability" and "interpersonal relationships" should be treated with more caution. Indeed, for such dimensions support for only configural and metric invariance was found.

Conclusions

The main contribution of the present study was to provide evidence about the measurement invariance of the ECO VI scale. Thus, providing the community of scientists and practitioners operating in different Latin American countries with a molar organizational climate scale that can be used for conducting cross-cultural research. Hence, it is now possible to have a deeper understanding of how theories and practices involving the organizational climate for well-being can be better applied across the countries and cultures composing this continent.

Identifying military family cultural competencies: experiences of military and Veteran families in Canadian health care

Introduction: Military family life is characterized by mobility, separation, and increased risk for injury or death of the military member, which impacts the health and well-being of all family members. Additional stress is experienced when accessing and navigating a new health care system. Unknown to most Canadians is the reality that military and Veteran families (MVFs) access the civilian health care system; this indicates a need for military family cultural competency among health care providers. This current research identifies aspects of military family cultural competency to inform health care provision to MVFs. Method: A qualitative study using one-on-one interviews was completed with MVFs. Critical Incident Technique (CIT) was used to develop interview questions. Framework analysis was used for data analysis. Results: In total 17 interviews were completed including:1 family (female military spouse, male military member and child); 1 male Veteran; and 15 female military spouses (1 Veteran; 1 active member). Military family cultural competency domains such as cultural knowledge (characteristics of military families; impacts of mobility, separation, and risk) and cultural skills (building relationships; use of effective and appropriate assessments and interventions) were identified. The ecological context was also described as impacting the health care experience. Discussion: The reported experiences of MVFs in this study have highlighted the gaps in the military family cultural knowledge and military family cultural skills Canadian health care providers have when providing care. Results of this study can be used to develop continuing education for health professionals and inform future research.

Developing a Peer-to-Peer mHealth Application to Connect Hispanic Cancer Patients

Cancer and its treatment can significantly impact health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (J Pain Symptom Manag 9 (3):186-192, 1994; Soc Sci Med 46:1569-1584, 1998), particularly for Hispanics (Healthcare Financ Rev 29 (4):23-40, 2008; Psycho-Oncology 21 (2):115-124, 2012). Moreover, providers of cancer support for this population may encounter unique challenges. Grounded in social capital theory, this study identified Spanish-speaking, Hispanic breast cancer survivor support needs and preferences for a mHealth intervention. A user-centered, community-engaged research design was employed, consisting of focus groups made up of constituents from a local Hispanic-serving, cancer support organization. Focus group audio-recordings, translated into English, were coded using a grounded theory analytic approach. First, lead researchers read the complete transcripts to obtain a general sense of the discussion. Next, coding rules were established (e.g., code at the most granular level; double and triple code if necessary, code exhaustively) and initial codebook was created through open-coding. Three new coders were trained to establish requisite kappa statistic levels (≥.70) for inter-rater reliability. With training and discussion, kappa estimates reached .81-.88. Focus group (n = 31) results revealed a mHealth intervention targeting Hispanic cancer patients should not only offer information and support on disease/treatment effects but also respond to the individual's HRQOL, particularly emotional and social challenges. Specifically, participants expressed a strong desire for Spanish content and to connect with others who had gone through a similar experience. Overall, participants indicated they would have access to and would use such an intervention. Findings indicate positive support for a mHealth tool, which is culturally tailored to Spanish speakers, is available in Spanish, and connects cancer patients with survivors.

Identifying Health Promotion Needs Among Dominican-American Adolescents

PURPOSE

Immigration from the Dominican Republic to the United States has grown rapidly. Yet, although adolescent pregnancy and obesity are common concerns among Hispanics, little is known specifically about Dominican adolescent health. This study was undertaken to assess Dominican-American adolescents' health concerns and their perceptions about their health promotion needs.

DESIGN AND METHODS

Dominican-American adolescents (N=25) were recruited in a pediatric clinic in New York City which primarily serves a Dominican population. Eligibility criteria included age 13-21years, self-identifying as Dominican ethnicity, and able to speak and read English. They completed a questionnaire, with demographic questions and questions about their risk behaviors including sexual and substance use. After completing the questionnaire, they participated in a semi-structured interview addressing their health education experiences and suggestions for such programs. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequencies to provide a demographic and behavioral profile. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty-five adolescents, ages 13-21years, (female N=19, male N=6) participated in the study. Most were in school (92%) and were sexually experienced (68%). Programmatic preferences included in-person programs rather than online. They spontaneously addressed the importance of cultural issues, and the need to address several issues in addition to sexuality, including obesity and substance use.

CONCLUSIONS

Programming for this population should address a broad conceptualization of health, and incorporate Dominican cultural issues.

PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS

Nurses working with adolescents of Dominican origin, should provide health education that incorporates the specific needs of this population, including culturally congruent face-to-face interventions.

Mentoring Hispanic undergraduate and graduate research assistants: building research capacity in nursing

BACKGROUND

This article discusses and describes the experiences of five Hispanic bilingual (English and Spanish) research assistants (RAs) who were undergraduate and graduate nursing students and who were part of a research team.

METHOD

A capacity-building framework was used, which has six guiding principles: a whole-system approach; accommodating diversity; reducing barriers to participation; enabling collaboration; mentoring; and facilitating networking. In addition, mentorship and peer learning were essential components of building research capacity.

RESULTS

Reflections of the five RAs highlighting how these principles were applied are described. The experiences of the five Hispanic RAs and the outcomes of the projects are also described.

CONCLUSION

These experiences demonstrate the importance of involving undergraduate and graduate nursing students in research, which can build research capacity and increase the number of Hispanic nurses in the workforce.

Knowledge, perceptions, and experiences of Dominicans with diabetes

Dominicans, one of the fastest growing Hispanic subgroups in New York City (NYC), have a high rate of diabetes. A qualitative study exploring Dominicans' knowledge, perceptions, and experiences in managing their diabetes was conducted. There were a total of 40 participants who were Spanish speaking Dominicans, 40-74 years of age, diagnosed with diabetes and NYC residents. Four focus groups were conducted in Spanish, which were recorded and then transcribed into English. Content analysis was used to analyze the text of the focus groups. Different themes emerged from the data, with apparent gaps in diabetes knowledge and of awareness of risk for diabetes complications.

Addressing low-density lipoprotein (LDL) in Mexican Americans with diabetes in the NHANES (1999-2000 and 2001-2002)

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1999-2000 and 2001-2002) was utilized to examine and compare low-density lipoprotein levels in Mexican Americans with diabetes.