Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer

Spanish speakers in the United States encounter numerous communication barriers during cancer treatment. Communication-focused interventions may help Spanish speakers communicate better with healthcare providers and manage symptoms and quality of life issues (SQOL). For this study, we developed a Sp...

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Main Authors: Cindy Tofthagen, Barbara Halpenny, Maribel Melendez, Laura Gonzalez, Veronica Sanchez Varela, Rosalyn Negrón, Donna L. Berry
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2014-01-01
Series:Nursing Research and Practice
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/702683
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author Cindy Tofthagen
Barbara Halpenny
Maribel Melendez
Laura Gonzalez
Veronica Sanchez Varela
Rosalyn Negrón
Donna L. Berry
author_facet Cindy Tofthagen
Barbara Halpenny
Maribel Melendez
Laura Gonzalez
Veronica Sanchez Varela
Rosalyn Negrón
Donna L. Berry
author_sort Cindy Tofthagen
collection DOAJ
description Spanish speakers in the United States encounter numerous communication barriers during cancer treatment. Communication-focused interventions may help Spanish speakers communicate better with healthcare providers and manage symptoms and quality of life issues (SQOL). For this study, we developed a Spanish version of the electronic self-report assessment for cancer (ESRA-C), a web-based program that helps people with cancer report, track, and manage cancer-related SQOL. Four methods were used to evaluate the Spanish version. Focus groups and cognitive interviews were conducted with 51 Spanish-speaking individuals to elicit feedback. Readability was assessed using the Fry readability formula. The cultural sensitivity assessment tool was applied by three bilingual, bicultural reviewers. Revisions were made to personalize the introduction using a patient story and photos and to simplify language. Focus group participants endorsed changes to the program in a second round of focus groups. Cultural sensitivity of the program was scored unacceptable (x¯=3.0) for audiovisual material and acceptable (x¯=3.0) for written material. Fry reading levels ranged from 4th to 10th grade. Findings from this study provide several next steps to refine ESRA-C for Spanish speakers with cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-e8a674c118cf47558cf90db7d60a99392025-08-20T02:22:01ZengWileyNursing Research and Practice2090-14292090-14372014-01-01201410.1155/2014/702683702683Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with CancerCindy Tofthagen0Barbara Halpenny1Maribel Melendez2Laura Gonzalez3Veronica Sanchez Varela4Rosalyn Negrón5Donna L. Berry6University of South Florida, 4202 E Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, USADana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USADana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USAUniversity of Central Florida, 4000 Central Florida Boulevard, Orlando, FL 32816, USACalifornia Department of State Hospitals, P.O. Box 2297, Vacaville, CA 95696, USAUniversity of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125, USADana-Farber Cancer Institute, 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA 02215, USASpanish speakers in the United States encounter numerous communication barriers during cancer treatment. Communication-focused interventions may help Spanish speakers communicate better with healthcare providers and manage symptoms and quality of life issues (SQOL). For this study, we developed a Spanish version of the electronic self-report assessment for cancer (ESRA-C), a web-based program that helps people with cancer report, track, and manage cancer-related SQOL. Four methods were used to evaluate the Spanish version. Focus groups and cognitive interviews were conducted with 51 Spanish-speaking individuals to elicit feedback. Readability was assessed using the Fry readability formula. The cultural sensitivity assessment tool was applied by three bilingual, bicultural reviewers. Revisions were made to personalize the introduction using a patient story and photos and to simplify language. Focus group participants endorsed changes to the program in a second round of focus groups. Cultural sensitivity of the program was scored unacceptable (x¯=3.0) for audiovisual material and acceptable (x¯=3.0) for written material. Fry reading levels ranged from 4th to 10th grade. Findings from this study provide several next steps to refine ESRA-C for Spanish speakers with cancer.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/702683
spellingShingle Cindy Tofthagen
Barbara Halpenny
Maribel Melendez
Laura Gonzalez
Veronica Sanchez Varela
Rosalyn Negrón
Donna L. Berry
Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer
Nursing Research and Practice
title Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer
title_full Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer
title_fullStr Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer
title_full_unstemmed Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer
title_short Evaluating the Linguistic Appropriateness and Cultural Sensitivity of a Self-Report System for Spanish-Speaking Patients with Cancer
title_sort evaluating the linguistic appropriateness and cultural sensitivity of a self report system for spanish speaking patients with cancer
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/702683
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