The experiences of Filipino American patients with cancer.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES To explore the experience of Filipino patients with cancer. RESEARCH APPROACH Hermeneutic phenomenologic inquiry using focus groups. SETTING A comprehensive cancer center in the southeastern United States. PARTICIPANTS 18 female and 5 male Filipino patients aged 34-78 years who had received cancer treatment. METHODOLOGIC APPROACH Seven focus groups, each lasting two hours, were conducted; each participant attended one focus group. Discussions were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using phenomenologic analysis techniques. FINDINGS Three main themes emerged: support of the family, perception of symptoms, and communication preferences. CONCLUSIONS Important cultural needs of Filipino patients with cancer as well as strategies to provide more culturally competent care were identified. INTERPRETATION Nursing strategies important to the Filipino patients with cancer were including family when planning and delivering care, assessing symptoms with open-ended questions, frequently asking patients how they are doing, using gentle nondirect communication, and smiling. Culturally specific information should be included in nursing education. More research needs to be done with Filipino patients with cancer.