141st APHA Annual Meeting

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290516
Empowering Latino cancer patients on the reality of cancer pain and debunking cultural myths via an interactive pain education program

Monday, November 4, 2013

Lina Mayorga, MPH, CHES , Supportive Care Medicine, City of Hope Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
Gloria Juarez, RN, PhD , Nursing Research & Education, City of Hope Cancer Center, Duarte, CA
Limited educational programs on pain management are available for Spanish speaking cancer patients. One way of addressing Latinos cancer pain needs and barriers was to conduct a needs assessment. Allowing the opportunity to take a patient centered approach by involving Latino patients/families to enhance their care, expand their voice and address needs. Needs assessments were mailed to all new Spanish speaking patients over a 90 days(n=132),57 were completed. Data identified the need to educate patients/families on cancer pain management and greater need for Spanish educational programs versus support. Thus,an interactive pain management education program was developed. The objective was to provide patients /families with tools and resources to assist them in communicating their pain to the healthcare team and debunking the cultural myths of cancer pain. Cultural factors were considered in designing and delivering the education intervention such as the significance of family or “familismo” which is considered one of the most culturally specific values for Latinos. The pilot program further identified a distorted perception of pain when undergoing cancer treatment: (1) pain was not manageable (2) part of the treatment process (3)a way that the body is getting rid of cancer. Others refused medication for fear of addiction. When asked how they dealt with pain, the majority mentioned that they preferred to receive support or comfort in their families or talk with other cancer patients in similar situations. Some patients shared that they did not communicate their pain issues to their healthcare team, for fear of treatment delay.

Learning Areas:
Implementation of health education strategies, interventions and programs
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
Identify the educational needs of new latino cancer patients via a needs assessment Describe the cultural myths of cancer pain identified by a latino cancer patients Evaluate an interactive cancer pain education program

Keywords: Health Education, Latinos

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Developed needs assessment, conducted analysis and was co-developer and facilitator of educational program.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.