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Developing a Culturally Competent Peer Support Intervention for Spanish-speaking Latinas with Breast Cancer

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Abstract

Little research exists on the need for, barriers to, and acceptability and effectiveness of psychosocial support services among Latinas with breast cancer, despite their increased risks of psychosocial distress. This formative research study identifies barriers to and benefits and components of an effective peer support counselor intervention for Spanish-speaking Latinas recently diagnosed with breast cancer. Analysis was based on interviews of 89 Latino cancer patients referred to psychosocial services; 29 Spanish-speaking survivors of breast cancer; and 17 culturally competent advocates for Latinos with cancer. Results indicate that interventions should begin close to diagnosis; build self-care skills; be culturally competent and emotionally supportive; provide language appropriate cancer information; encourage self-expression; and address lack of access to and knowledge of services. Creating such psychosocial programs with input from survivors and advocates who have similar self-identities to patients would improve quality of life in diverse and underserved populations.

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Acknowledgements

This research was supported by funds from the California Breast Cancer Research Program of the University of California grant number 11AB-1600, Redes En Acción: The National Latino Cancer Network grant number U01-CA86117 from the National Cancer Institute, and grant number P30-AG15272, from the Resource Centers for Minority Aging Research program of the National Institute on Aging, the National Institute of Nursing Research, and the National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, National Institutes of Health. We also wish to express our gratitude to the Community Advisory Board for their valuable guidance on this project and commitment to eliminating cancer disparities.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, San Francisco, CA, 94118-1944, USA

    Anna M. Nápoles-Springer, Helen O’Brien & Marynieves Díaz-Méndez

  2. The Center for Aging in Diverse Communities, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, 3333 California Street, Suite 335, San Francisco, CA, 94118-1944, USA

    Anna M. Nápoles-Springer, Helen O’Brien & Marynieves Díaz-Méndez

  3. Circulo de Vida Cancer Support and Resource Center, 2601 Mission Street, Suite 702, San Francisco, CA, 94110, USA

    Carmen Ortíz

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  1. Anna M. Nápoles-Springer
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  2. Carmen Ortíz
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  3. Helen O’Brien
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  4. Marynieves Díaz-Méndez
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Correspondence to Anna M. Nápoles-Springer.

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Nápoles-Springer, A.M., Ortíz, C., O’Brien, H. et al. Developing a Culturally Competent Peer Support Intervention for Spanish-speaking Latinas with Breast Cancer. J Immigrant Minority Health 11, 268–280 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9128-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10903-008-9128-4

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