School of Psychology, Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Israel.
Support Care Cancer. 2012 Sep;20(9):2217-21. doi: 10.1007/s00520-012-1485-9. Epub 2012 May 5.
Improving the assessment of and access to appropriate care for mental health problems among persons with cancer is essential, particularly for population groups that are at high risk for psychopathology. This study characterized ethnic differentials regarding needs and service utilization by Jewish (n = 1,430) and Arab-Israeli (n = 141) persons with cancer.
We reviewed 284 randomly selected active medical charts in an oncology clinic in a large public hospital (November 2010-April 2011).
While 12% of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli sample included a record of psychiatric disorders or symptoms, only 5% of the charts of the Arab-Israeli sample had a similar record (χ² = 4.4, p < .05). Similarly, in a higher percentage of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli sample, the current utilization of psychotropics (18.2 and 5.6%, respectively; χ² = 6.7; p < .01) and/or psychotherapy (7.8 and 1.4%, respectively; χ² = 3.6; p < .05) was noted compared with the Arab-Israeli sample. Also, in a higher percentage of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli patients, a referral for psychotherapy was recorded compared with their Arab counterparts (9.1 and 4.3% respectively; χ² = 6.3; p < .05). In contrast, 19.1% of the Arab-Israelis were recommended with welfare assistance compared to their Jewish-Israeli counterparts, 10.5% (χ² = 5.35; p < .05).
Despite methodological limitations, findings confirm past research showing that disadvantaged ethnic minorities may receive differential recommendations for mental health problems among persons with cancer. This may contribute to the differential treatment gap in mental health care among persons with cancer of contrasting ethnic groups.
提高癌症患者心理健康问题的评估和获得适当治疗的水平非常重要，特别是对于那些患精神病理学风险较高的人群。本研究旨在描述犹太（n=1430）和阿拉伯-以色列（n=141）癌症患者在需求和服务利用方面的种族差异。
我们回顾了一家大型公立医院肿瘤诊所 284 份随机选择的活动病历（2010 年 11 月至 2011 年 4 月）。
在犹太-以色列样本的图表中，有 12%记录了精神障碍或症状，而在阿拉伯-以色列样本的图表中，只有 5%记录了类似的情况（χ²=4.4，p<.05）。同样，在犹太-以色列样本中，有更高比例的图表记录了当前使用精神药物（分别为 18.2%和 5.6%；χ²=6.7；p<.01）和/或心理治疗（分别为 7.8%和 1.4%；χ²=3.6；p<.05），而在阿拉伯-以色列样本中则较少。此外，在犹太-以色列患者的图表中，有更高比例的患者记录了转介接受心理治疗，而他们的阿拉伯患者则较少（分别为 9.1%和 4.3%；χ²=6.3；p<.05）。相比之下，19.1%的阿拉伯-以色列人被推荐接受福利援助，而他们的犹太-以色列人则为 10.5%（χ²=5.35；p<.05）。
尽管存在方法学上的限制，但研究结果证实了过去的研究，表明弱势群体可能会因癌症患者的心理健康问题而得到不同的建议。这可能导致不同族裔群体癌症患者的心理健康护理治疗差距不同。
