Carrion Iraida V, Nedjat-Haiem Frances, Macip-Billbe Melania, Black Ryan
1 University of South Florida, School of Social Work, Tampa, FL, USA.
2 New Mexico State University, School of Social Work, Las Cruces, NM, USA.
Am J Hosp Palliat Care. 2017 Apr;34(3):233-240. doi: 10.1177/1049909115625955. Epub 2016 Jul 10.
This study contributes to the sparse body of literature examining perceptions of coping among Latino men and women with a cancer diagnosis living in the United States. There are currently 50 million Latinos in the United States and, by 2050, projected to grow to 128 million. Although some research indicates that Latinos have unique sociocultural beliefs that influence their cancer care, very little is known about their perceptions of coping after being diagnosed with cancer. We examined Latino men and women's perceptions of coping to understand the meaning of their experience with cancer Method: Using criterion sampling technique, 60 immigrant and migrant Latino men and women diagnosed with cancer within the past 5 years were recruited from community-based organizations, clinics, and churches. The study consisted of 60- to 90-minute semistructured interviews asking open-ended questions pertaining to coping. The qualitative design facilitated an understanding of coping within the participants' social and cultural contexts.
Median age of the participants was 55 years. Among the women, 80% had breast cancer; 12% had ovarian cancer; and 8% had throat, thyroid, stomach, or skin cancers. Among the men, 94% had prostate cancer and 6% had brain, colorectal, or lung cancers. Emerging themes associated with the development of coping strategies involved positive reframing, family support, religion and spirituality, and support from health care providers. The term "positive reframing" relates to finding meaning and positive emotions that help sustain the coping process, despite having a cancer diagnosis. In addition, when medical and helping professionals provided tangible support, participants engaged in meaning-based coping.
This study provides insights regarding the existing coping strategies which Latinos utilize and provides clinician-tangible information pertaining to participant's engagement in meaning-based coping. Family support facilitated coping among the Latino men and women. The role of religion and spirituality in the lives of the participants enabled them to cope with the cancer diagnosis. Future research is necessary to examine coping strategies regarding specific cancers at end of life.
本研究为考察美国癌症诊断患者中拉丁裔男性和女性应对观念的稀少文献做出了贡献。美国目前有5000万拉丁裔，预计到2050年将增长至1.28亿。尽管一些研究表明拉丁裔有独特的社会文化信仰影响其癌症护理，但对于他们被诊断患有癌症后的应对观念却知之甚少。我们考察了拉丁裔男性和女性的应对观念，以理解他们患癌经历的意义。方法：采用标准抽样技术，从社区组织、诊所和教会招募了60名在过去5年内被诊断患有癌症的移民和流动拉丁裔男性和女性。该研究包括60至90分钟的半结构化访谈，询问与应对相关的开放式问题。定性设计有助于在参与者的社会和文化背景中理解应对。
参与者的中位年龄为55岁。女性中，80%患有乳腺癌；12%患有卵巢癌；8%患有咽喉、甲状腺、胃或皮肤癌。男性中，94%患有前列腺癌，6%患有脑癌、结直肠癌或肺癌。与应对策略发展相关的新出现主题包括积极重构、家庭支持、宗教和灵性以及医疗保健提供者的支持。“积极重构”一词指的是尽管被诊断患有癌症，但仍能找到有助于维持应对过程的意义和积极情绪。此外，当医疗和辅助专业人员提供切实支持时，参与者会进行基于意义的应对。
本研究提供了关于拉丁裔使用现有应对策略的见解，并提供了与参与者基于意义的应对相关的临床切实信息。家庭支持促进了拉丁裔男性和女性的应对。宗教和灵性在参与者生活中的作用使他们能够应对癌症诊断。未来有必要研究临终时针对特定癌症的应对策略。
