Communication Challenges Faced by Adult Immigrant Cancer Patients in Western Countries
Farah, Nimo; Velpula, Soumya (2019)
Farah, Nimo
Velpula, Soumya
2019
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Julkaisun pysyvä osoite on
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2019052411767
https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:amk-2019052411767
Tiivistelmä
Effective communication is considered to be the most essential component in cancer care as it affects a cancer patient´s disease outcome. Globally, it has been reported that challenges in communication is considered to be a great contributing factor for causing health disparities between immigrants and non-immigrants.
The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis was to identify how communication challenges can affect the outcome in adult immigrant cancer patients. Hence, the aim was to explore the effects of communication challenges faced by adult immigrant cancer patients living in western countries and to determine areas to target for intervention and improvement to help increase positive outcome during cancer care.
A literature review was used to conduct this thesis. Totally, 5 articles were found to be relevant to this topic and were obtained from CINAHL (Ebscohost), Sage premier, ScienceDirect and PubMed databases. CASP tool was used to conduct critical data appraisal on all the chosen articles prior to analyzing the data using inductive content analysis method.
The findings from this literature review established immigrant cancer patients with communication challenges face a variety of problems that greatly compromises the positive outcome of their condition. These include inability to acquire knowledge and information regarding the cancer disease and its process, inadequate interpretation, hindered relationship with healthcare professionals, lack of social support as well as difficulties in navigating the healthcare system.
The authors recommend further research to be conducted to establish the effects of cultural influences on immigrant patients who are receiving cancer treatment in Finland. Additionally, to help bridge the existing gap of communication barrier between healthcare professionals and immigrant patients, extensive research is required to determine how culturally competent interpreters are well versed in the complicated medical terms used in cancer care
The purpose of this bachelor’s thesis was to identify how communication challenges can affect the outcome in adult immigrant cancer patients. Hence, the aim was to explore the effects of communication challenges faced by adult immigrant cancer patients living in western countries and to determine areas to target for intervention and improvement to help increase positive outcome during cancer care.
A literature review was used to conduct this thesis. Totally, 5 articles were found to be relevant to this topic and were obtained from CINAHL (Ebscohost), Sage premier, ScienceDirect and PubMed databases. CASP tool was used to conduct critical data appraisal on all the chosen articles prior to analyzing the data using inductive content analysis method.
The findings from this literature review established immigrant cancer patients with communication challenges face a variety of problems that greatly compromises the positive outcome of their condition. These include inability to acquire knowledge and information regarding the cancer disease and its process, inadequate interpretation, hindered relationship with healthcare professionals, lack of social support as well as difficulties in navigating the healthcare system.
The authors recommend further research to be conducted to establish the effects of cultural influences on immigrant patients who are receiving cancer treatment in Finland. Additionally, to help bridge the existing gap of communication barrier between healthcare professionals and immigrant patients, extensive research is required to determine how culturally competent interpreters are well versed in the complicated medical terms used in cancer care