TY - JOUR
T1 - Ethnic differentials in mental health needs and service utilization among persons with cancer
AU - Nakash, Ora
AU - Nagar, Maayan
AU - Mandel, Rachel
AU - Alon, Shirly
AU - Gottfried, Maya
AU - Levav, Itzhak
N1 - Funding Information:
Acknowledgments Dr. Michael Silberman, director of the Middle Eastern Cancer Consortium (MECC), granted SA and IL the opportunity to deepen their interest on the psychological factors in cancer care in ethnically diverse populations. The senior author was supported by the Marie Curie Reintegration Grant funded by the European Union #IRG231007.
PY - 2012/9
Y1 - 2012/9
N2 - Purpose: Improving the assessment of and access to appropriate care for mental health problems among persons with cancer is essential, particularly for population groups that are at high risk for psychopathology. This study characterized ethnic differentials regarding needs and service utilization by Jewish (n=1,430) and Arab-Israeli (n=141) persons with cancer. Methods: We reviewed 284 randomly selected active medical charts in an oncology clinic in a large public hospital (November 2010-April 2011). Results: While 12 % of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli sample included a record of psychiatric disorders or symptoms, only 5 % of the charts of the Arab-Israeli sample had a similar record (χ2=4.4, p<.05). Similarly, in a higher percentage of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli sample, the current utilization of psychotropics (18.2 and 5.6 %, respectively; χ2=6.7; p<.01) and/or psychotherapy (7.8 and 1.4 %, respectively; χ2=3.6; p<.05) was noted compared with the Arab-Israeli sample. Also, in a higher percentage of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli patients, a referral for psychotherapy was recorded compared with their Arab counterparts (9.1 and 4.3 % respectively; χ2=6.3; p<.05). In contrast, 19.1 % of the Arab-Israelis were recommended with welfare assistance compared to their Jewish-Israeli counterparts, 10.5 % (χ2=5.35; p<.05). Conclusions: Despite methodological limitations, findings confirm past research showing that disadvantaged ethnic minorities may receive differential recommendations for mental health problems among persons with cancer. This may contribute to the differential treatment gap in mental health care among persons with cancer of contrasting ethnic groups.
AB - Purpose: Improving the assessment of and access to appropriate care for mental health problems among persons with cancer is essential, particularly for population groups that are at high risk for psychopathology. This study characterized ethnic differentials regarding needs and service utilization by Jewish (n=1,430) and Arab-Israeli (n=141) persons with cancer. Methods: We reviewed 284 randomly selected active medical charts in an oncology clinic in a large public hospital (November 2010-April 2011). Results: While 12 % of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli sample included a record of psychiatric disorders or symptoms, only 5 % of the charts of the Arab-Israeli sample had a similar record (χ2=4.4, p<.05). Similarly, in a higher percentage of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli sample, the current utilization of psychotropics (18.2 and 5.6 %, respectively; χ2=6.7; p<.01) and/or psychotherapy (7.8 and 1.4 %, respectively; χ2=3.6; p<.05) was noted compared with the Arab-Israeli sample. Also, in a higher percentage of the charts of the Jewish-Israeli patients, a referral for psychotherapy was recorded compared with their Arab counterparts (9.1 and 4.3 % respectively; χ2=6.3; p<.05). In contrast, 19.1 % of the Arab-Israelis were recommended with welfare assistance compared to their Jewish-Israeli counterparts, 10.5 % (χ2=5.35; p<.05). Conclusions: Despite methodological limitations, findings confirm past research showing that disadvantaged ethnic minorities may receive differential recommendations for mental health problems among persons with cancer. This may contribute to the differential treatment gap in mental health care among persons with cancer of contrasting ethnic groups.
KW - Archival study
KW - Cancer
KW - Ethnicity
KW - Israel
KW - Mental health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84865197781&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00520-012-1485-9
DO - 10.1007/s00520-012-1485-9
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C2 - 22562585
AN - SCOPUS:84865197781
SN - 0941-4355
VL - 20
SP - 2217
EP - 2221
JO - Supportive Care in Cancer
JF - Supportive Care in Cancer
IS - 9
ER -