Faculty Collaboration Database

Culture, identity, strength and spirituality: A qualitative study to understand experiences of African American women breast cancer survivors and recommendations for intervention development. Eur J Cancer Care (Engl) 2019 May;28(3):e13013

Date

02/15/2019

Pubmed ID

30761637

DOI

10.1111/ecc.13013

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85061576092 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   24 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Despite advancements in cancer treatment, racial disparities in breast cancer survival persist, with African American women experiencing lower survival rates and poorer quality of life than non-Hispanic White women. Using a social cognitive model of restorative well-being as a framework, this qualitative study sought: (a) to examine strength- and culture-related factors associated with African American female breast cancer survivors' cancer coping and post-treatment experiences and (b) to make recommendations for culturally sensitive intervention.

METHODS: Eight focus groups occurred with a total of 40 local African American breast cancer survivors. Focus groups were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Framework analyses were used to identify themes. NVivo qualitative analysis software-managed data.

RESULTS: Two major themes emerged from the focus group discussions: (a) God enables breast cancer survivorship and works every day in our lives and (b) the healthiest thing about us is that we are strong African American women. Recommendations for intervention planning and implementation were made towards intervention structure, content development and language framing in a local context.

CONCLUSION: Findings suggest a need for community-based participatory survivorship interventions that are culturally and spiritually consonant and peer-based. Such interventions may respond to the cancer-related and personal needs of the target population.

Author List

Yan AF, Stevens P, Holt C, Walker A, Ng A, McManus P, Basen-Enguist K, Weinhardt LS, Underwood SM, Asan O, Wang MQ

Author

Lance S. Weinhardt MS,PhD Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Community and Behavioral Health Promotion in the Joseph. J. Zilber School of Public Health department at University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adaptation, Psychological
Adult
Aged
Breast Neoplasms
Cancer Survivors
Community-Based Participatory Research
Culture
Female
Focus Groups
Humans
Middle Aged
Qualitative Research
Social Identification
Spirituality