Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cancer Stage Knowledge and Desire for Information: Mismatch in Latino Cancer Patients?

  • Published:
Journal of Cancer Education Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Having more health knowledge has a crucial and positive impact on cancer outcomes. Patients’ cancer knowledge influences their ability to participate actively in decision-making processes for medical care and in treatment choices. The purpose of this study was to determine the demographic and medical correlates of lack of cancer stage knowledge and desire for information among Latino cancer patients. The sample included 271 underserved Latino cancer patients recruited from four cancer clinics in New York City. Participants completed a needs assessment survey in their preferred language, which included sociodemographic and health-related questions. Close to two-thirds of the sample (65 %) had no knowledge of their stage, and 38 % were unaware of the metastatic state of their tumor. Only 15 % of the patients expressed that they would like additional information about their diagnosis and/or treatment. After controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, being an immigrant with limited English proficiency and monolingual in Spanish were predictors of stage unawareness and less desire/need for cancer information. Patients needing interpretation for health care were less likely to know whether their tumor had metastasized and their cancer stage and to desire information about their cancer diagnosis and/or treatment. This study shows considerably low levels of stage awareness among Latinos diagnosed with cancer. This lack of knowledge might adversely impact their treatment decisions and disease management. Future studies should focus on identifying barriers to acquisition of disease information and other disease-specific informational deficits.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Johnston-Polacek GNL, Ramos MC, Ferrer RL (2007) Breast cancer disparities and decision-making among U.S. women. Patient Educ Couns 65:158–165

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Rust C, Davis C (2011) Health literacy and medication adherence in underserved African-American breast cancer survivors: a qualitative study. Soc Work Health Care 50:739–761

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Goodwin JS, Samet JM, Hunt WC (1996) Determinants of survival in older cancer patients. J Natl Cancer Inst 88:1031–1038

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Johnson RL, Roter D, Powe NR, Cooper LA (2004) Patient race/ethnicity and quality of patient–physician communication during medical visits. Am J Public Health 94:2084–2090

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Siminoff LA, Graham GC, Gordon NH (2006) Cancer communication patterns and the influence of patient characteristics: disparities in information-giving and affective behaviors. Patient Educ Couns 62:355–360

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Ashing-Giwa KT, Kagawa-Singer M, Padilla GV et al (2004) The impact of cervical cancer and dysplasia: a qualitative, multiethnic study. Psychooncology 13:709–728

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Ashing-Giwa KT, Padilla G, Tejero J et al (2004) Understanding the breast cancer experience of women: a qualitative study of African American, Asian American, Latina and Caucasian cancer survivors. Psychooncology 13:408–428

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Gany F, Yogendran L, Massie D et al (2012) “Doctor, what do I have?” Knowledge of cancer diagnosis among immigrant/migrant minorities. J Cancer Educ 28(1):165–170

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Kirsch IJA, Jenkins L, Kolstad A (1993) Adult literacy in America: a first look at the results of the National Adult Literacy Survey. Office of Educational Research and Development, US Department of Education, Washington(DC)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Haas JS, Adler NE (2001) The causes of vulnerability: disentangling the effects of race, socioeconomic status and insurance coverage on health. Report prepared for the Committee on the Consequences of Uninsurance

  11. Chen JY, Diamant AL, Thind A, Maly RC (2008) Determinants of breast cancer knowledge among newly diagnosed, low-income, medically underserved women with breast cancer. Cancer 112:1153–1161

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Cooper-Patrick L, Gallo JJ, Gonzales JJ et al (1999) Race, gender, and partnership in the patient-physician relationship. JAMA 282:583–589

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Janz NK, Mujahid MS, Hawley ST, Griggs JJ, Hamilton AS, Katz SJ (2008) Racial/ethnic differences in adequacy of information and support for women with breast cancer. Cancer 113:1058–1067

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Talosig-Garcia M, Davis SW (2005) Information-seeking behavior of minority breast cancer patients: an exploratory study. J Health Commun 10:53–64

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Arora NK, Johnson P, Gustafson DH, McTavish F, Hawkins RP, Pingree S (2002) Barriers to information access, perceived health competence, and psychosocial health outcomes: test of a mediation model in a breast cancer sample. Patient Educ Couns 47:37–46

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Crane LA (1996) Social support and adherence behavior among women with abnormal Pap smears. J Cancer Educ 11:164–173

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Sullivan MC (2001) Lost in translation: how Latinos view end-of-life care. Plast Surg Nurs 21:90–91

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Blackhall LJ, Murphy ST, Frank G, Michel VMA, Azen S (1995) Ethnicity and attitudes toward patient autonomy. JAMA 274:820–825

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Perkins HS, Geppert C, Gonzales A, Cortez JD, Hazuda HP (2002) Cross-cultural similarities and differences in attitudes about advance care planning. J Gen Intern Med 17:48–57

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Gany F, Ramirez J, Nierodzick ML, McNish T, Lobach I, Leng J (2011) Cancer portal project: a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care among Hispanic patients. J Oncol Pract 7:31–38

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Gany FM, Shah SM, Changrani J (2006) New York City’s immigrant minorities: reducing cancer health disparities. Cancer 107:2071–2081

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Woloshin S, Schwartz LM, Katz SJ, Welch HG (1997) Is language a barrier to the use of preventive services? J Gen Intern Med 12:472–477

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ashing-Giwa KT, Padilla GV, Bohorquez DE, Tejero JS, Garcia M (2006) Understanding the breast cancer experience of Latina women. J Psychosoc Oncol 24:19–52

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Simon CM, Zyzanski SJ, Durand E, Jimenez X, Kodish ED (2006) Interpreter accuracy and informed consent among Spanish-speaking families with cancer. J Health Commun 1:509–522

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Ellis J, Mullan J, Worsley A, Pai N (2012) The role of health literacy and social networks in arthritis patients’ health information-seeking behavior: a qualitative study. Int J Family Med 2012:1–6

  26. Steptoe A, Sutcliffe I, Allen B, Coombes C (1991) Satisfaction with communication, medical knowledge, and coping style in patients with metastatic cancer. Soc Sci Med 32:627–632

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Collins D, Villagran MM, Sparks L (2008) Crossing borders, crossing cultures: barriers to communication about cancer prevention and treatment along the U.S./Mexico border. Patient Educ Couns 71:333–339

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Aziz NM, Rowland JH (2002) Cancer survivorship research among ethnic minority and medically underserved groups. Oncol Nurs Forum 29:789–801

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Zea MC, Quezada T, Belgrave FZ (1994) Latino cultural values: their role in adjustment to disability. J Soc Behav Pers 9:185–200

    Google Scholar 

  30. Elder JP, Ayala GX, Parra-Medina D, Talavera GA (2009) Health communication in the Latino community: issues and approaches. Annu Rev Public Health 30:227–251

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the New York Community Trust. The contents of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the awarding agency.

Conflict of Interest

The authors indicated no potential conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 641 Lexington Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10022, USA

    Rosario Costas-Muniz & Rohini Sen

  2. Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, 300 E 66th St., 15th Fl, New York, NY, 10065, USA

    Jennifer Leng, Abraham Aragones, Julia Ramirez & Francesca Gany

Authors
  1. Rosario Costas-Muniz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Rohini Sen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jennifer Leng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Abraham Aragones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Julia Ramirez
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Francesca Gany
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rosario Costas-Muniz.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Costas-Muniz, R., Sen, R., Leng, J. et al. Cancer Stage Knowledge and Desire for Information: Mismatch in Latino Cancer Patients?. J Canc Educ 28, 458–465 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0487-8

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-013-0487-8

Keywords

Search

Navigation