TY - JOUR
T1 - African American Cancer Survivors
T2 - Do Cultural Factors Influence Symptom Distress?
AU - Finney, Jane M.
AU - Hamilton, Jill B.
AU - Hodges, Eric A.
AU - Pierre-Louis, Bosny J.
AU - Crandell, Jamie L.
AU - Muss, Hyman B.
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: The study in this report was supported with funds from the Center for Spirituality Theology and Health at Duke University (J. B. Hamilton, Principal Investigator) and the University of North Carolina Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center (J. B. Hamilton, Principal Investigator).
PY - 2015/5
Y1 - 2015/5
N2 - Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how the cultural factors, stigma, being strong, and religiosity influence symptom distress in African American cancer survivors. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was designed using the Sociocultural Stress and Coping Framework. Seventy-seven African American cancer survivors, recruited from oncology clinics and the community in North Carolina, completed a questionnaire that consisted of measures of demographic and illness characteristics, the Perceived Stigma Scale, the Ways of Helping Questionnaire, the Religious Involvement Scale, and the Symptom Distress Scale. Results: The two cultural factors that were significantly associated with symptom distress were stigma (β =.23, p <.05) and organized religion (β = ∑.50, p <.05). No significant associations were found between being strong or nonorganized religiosity and symptom distress. The most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue (M = 2.44, SD = 1.20), pain (M = 2.26, SD = 1.43), and insomnia (M = 1.95, SD = 1.25). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that the cultural factors, stigma, and organized religiosity were significantly associated with symptom distress. Implications for Practice: The results from this study can be used to guide researchers in developing culturally appropriate interventions aimed at alleviating symptom distress in African American cancer survivors.
AB - Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how the cultural factors, stigma, being strong, and religiosity influence symptom distress in African American cancer survivors. Methods: This descriptive correlational study was designed using the Sociocultural Stress and Coping Framework. Seventy-seven African American cancer survivors, recruited from oncology clinics and the community in North Carolina, completed a questionnaire that consisted of measures of demographic and illness characteristics, the Perceived Stigma Scale, the Ways of Helping Questionnaire, the Religious Involvement Scale, and the Symptom Distress Scale. Results: The two cultural factors that were significantly associated with symptom distress were stigma (β =.23, p <.05) and organized religion (β = ∑.50, p <.05). No significant associations were found between being strong or nonorganized religiosity and symptom distress. The most commonly reported symptoms were fatigue (M = 2.44, SD = 1.20), pain (M = 2.26, SD = 1.43), and insomnia (M = 1.95, SD = 1.25). Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that the cultural factors, stigma, and organized religiosity were significantly associated with symptom distress. Implications for Practice: The results from this study can be used to guide researchers in developing culturally appropriate interventions aimed at alleviating symptom distress in African American cancer survivors.
KW - African Americans
KW - cancer
KW - cultural factors
KW - symptom distress
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U2 - 10.1177/1043659614524251
DO - 10.1177/1043659614524251
M3 - Article
C2 - 24797252
AN - SCOPUS:84927125255
SN - 1043-6596
VL - 26
SP - 294
EP - 300
JO - Journal of Transcultural Nursing
JF - Journal of Transcultural Nursing
IS - 3
ER -