Abstract
This study compared health-related quality of life (QOL) and psychological morbidity in a population-based sample of first generation immigrant and Anglo-Australian cancer survivors. Eligible participants, recruited via three State Cancer Registries, included those: with a new diagnosis of one of 12 most incident cancers (all stages) 1-6 years earlier; aged 18-80 at diagnosis; born in a Chinese, Arabic, or Greek speaking country and able to speak one of these languages. A random sample of English-speaking Anglo-Australian-born controls frequency matched for cancer diagnosis was recruited. 596 patients (277 of whom were immigrants) participated (a 26% response rate). In multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, marital status, socio-economic status, time since diagnosis and type of cancer, immigrants had clinically significantly worse QOL (5.4-8.5 points on Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-General (FACT-G), P < 0·0001), higher depression (P < 0·0001) and higher incidence of clinical depression (P < 0·01) than Anglo-Australians. Understanding the health system partially mediated this relationship for depression (P = 0·0004) and QOL (P = 0·001). Immigrant survivors of cancer have worse psychological and QOL outcomes than Anglo-Australians. Potential targets for intervention include assistance in navigating the health system, translated information and cultural competency training for health professionals.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 1948-1956 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | European Journal of Cancer |
Volume | 49 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2013 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Anxiety
- CALD
- Cancer
- Cultural competence
- Depression
- Health disparities
- Immigrants
- Multi-culturalism
- NESB
- Oncology survivorship
- Quality of life
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research