Oral Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2024

Evaluation of a co-designed culturally adapted supportive care program for Chinese-, Vietnamese- and Arabic-speaking women with cancer (#52)

Suzanne Grant 1 , Eric Yeung 2 , Jing Liu 1 , Ghufran Alhassani 1 , Lianne Ngo 1 , Hala Al Duleimi 3 , Sarah Chung 4 , Harry Nguyen 1 , Farynaz Basiri 1 , Thao Dinh 1 , Chloe Berenger 1 , Sheetal Challam 4 , Joel Rhee 5 , Cannas Kwok 6 , Elisabeth Elder 7 , Jolyn Hersch 8 , Tinashe Dune 1 , Ash Malalasekera 9 , Judith Lacey 10 , Nadine El Kabbout 11 , Carolyn Ee 1
  1. Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia
  2. CanRevive, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  3. Arab Council Australia, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  4. Cancer Institute New South Wales, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
  5. University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  6. Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, NSW, Australia
  7. Westmead Breast Cancer Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  8. University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  9. Sydney LHD, Sydney, NSW, Australia
  10. Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
  11. NA, Sydney, NSW

Aims

Cancer survivors from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds have greater unmet needs, higher depression, and poorer quality of life compared to Anglo-Australians. Few supportive care programs in Australia address the unique needs of CALD cancer survivors. This project aims to evaluate the impact of a six-week co-designed community-based culturally-adapted supportive care program delivered in language for Chinese-, Vietnamese- and Arabic-speaking women with cancer and their carers.

 

Methods

Face-to-face focus groups were conducted after each six-week program by bilingual facilitators, and explored the impact of the program on wellbeing, barriers/enablers of attending, and suggested changes. Focus group discussions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, translated into English by a native speaker and subjected to thematic analysis.

 

Results

Seven programs were conducted (three each with Chinese- and Arabic-speaking women, one with Vietnamese-speaking women) with a total of 67 participants (58 women and 9 carers). 65 participants provided qualitative data in seven focus groups. Major themes included the value of facilitated peer connection in language, improved health literacy and feeling empowered, and being able to move forward with joy, confidence and gratitude.  Enablers were delivery of the program in language and in familiar community settings by experienced bilingual facilitators and presenters, delivery of mind-body therapies (qigong, yoga) at each session, and the provision of healthy food as a method of facilitating peer connection. Barriers included intercurrent illness and lack of transport. Suggested changes to the program included navigation (e.g. education on the Australian healthcare system), addressing cultural myths about cancer, addition of outdoor activities eg nature walks, and increasing the duration and number of program sessions.

 

Conclusions

A culturally-adapted supportive care program had a positive impact on wellbeing and confidence. Future research should focus on expansion of the program to other language groups, mixed genders, and sustainability of such initiatives.