Minderheden

Kanker is een ingrijpende ziekte waar mensen uit verschillende culturen anders tegenaan kijken. De manier waarop de zorg in België is geregeld en de manier waarop dokters en verpleegkundigen met patiënten omgaan, sluit niet altijd aan bij de manier van leven van allochtone gezinnen. Tot op heden werd er weinig onderzoek gedaan bij allochtone kinderen met kanker en hun ouders. Over hun manier van omgaan met de ziekte, hun 'coping' en welke effecten dit heeft op de levenskwaliteit is nauwelijks iets geweten.

Abstract: Earlier diagnosis of cancer has become a policy priority. There is evidence that minority ethnic groups are more likely to delay help-seeking for cancer symptoms, but few studies have explored reasons for delay in these groups. The present study explored facilitators and barriers to help-seeking for breast and cervical cancer in an ethnically diverse sample of women.

Abstract The principal reason for childhood cancer treatment failure in low-income countries is treatment abandonment, the most severe form of nonadherence. Two often neglected factors that may contribute to treatment abandonment are as follows: (a) lack of information and guidance by doctors, along with the negative beliefs of family and friends advising parents, which contributes to misconceptions regarding cancer and its treatment, and (b) a widespread policy in public hospitals by which children are retained after doctor’s discharge until medical bills are settled.