Healthcare Professionals' Views of Supportive Care Needs for Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans with Metastatic Cancer.

Abstract

The supportive care needs of people with metastatic cancer, particularly Asian Americans, are understudied. Distinct psychosocial support needs may exist across ethnocultural groups with Confucian-heritage values and norms. Cultural factors may shape how adults approach their oncologic care. This qualitative study represents the perspectives of 15 experienced healthcare professionals about the supportive care needs of Chinese-, Korean-, and Vietnamese-heritage (CKV) adults with metastatic solid cancers. Reflexive thematic analysis was conducted with transcripts from three semi-structured focus groups and five parallel-format individual interviews. Inductive coding and iterative theme development resulted in four themes describing the types of needs (basic, care-related, mental health, relational trust) that should be met for CKV patients with metastatic cancer, which may fall through the gaps when the healthcare system and patient's differing cultural contexts collide. In conclusion, greater involvement of psychosocial care specialists with cultural expertise is essential to promote patients' and families' well-being, prevent care disparities, and better support the healthcare team. Systemic changes that increase workforce diversity, reduce language and insurance barriers, and allow healthcare professionals to build relational trust with patients, are needed to improve quality of life for CKV patients with metastatic cancer.