The cancer process is different for everyone, no matter their race or ethnicity. Unfortunately, minority populations seem to face a greater cancer burden compared to others (American Cancer Society, 2014). Much of this difference is due to factors such as poverty and “lack of access to prevention, education, and high-quality treatment” (Moody & Mannix, 2011, p. 1403). African Americans and Hispanics in the United States are “less likely to have health insurance, making it harder for them to access the care and support they need” (Moody & Mannix, p. 1404).

Many research studies assessed the distress needs, quality of life (QOL) and educational content available to patients with cancer. However, most of the research had predominately Caucasian samples. “Research has shown that 20 percent – 40 percent of cancer patients experience significant levels of distress” (Moody & Mannix, 2011, p. 1404). Being diagnosed with cancer can have a significant impact on one’s QOL; however, diagnosis effects may be even more extensive considering the severity of daily stressors among cultures living in a low socioeconomic environment (Moody & Mannix). It is imperative for minority individuals to receive psychosocial and/or psycho-educational support to successfully cope with their diagnosis and treatment (Moody & Mannix). If minority populations continue to face the burden of not being provided proper educational and networking support, their levels of distress have a greater chance of leading to further complications of depression, delirium and/or adjustment disorder (Campbell, Keefe, Scipio, McKee, & Edwards, 2006).

Practice Recommendations

There are various interventions that could be implemented into health care settings to provide quality services for underserved populations, including:
 

Practitioners working in the field of oncology need to be mindful of cultural differences and provide quality and relevant services for all. Individuals undergoing the cancer process can take on a variety of emotions and physical attributes that can alter their overall well-being. Practitioners need to understand the psychosocial needs of increasingly diverse populations and offer potential solutions for maximizing their QOL. Understanding the difference in needs can lead to referring appropriate resources to individual patients and provide a personalized experience. For specific needs such as one’s spirituality, practitioners can refer that individual to a support group within a church or more appropriate setting. Most importantly, practitioners need to have appropriate assessment tools and strategies to assess an individual’s quality-of-care needs. Numerous articles utilize various types of screening tools, questionnaires and interview techniques to assess an individual’s psychosocial needs. Utilizing these methods of data when a patient is admitted would be a great first step in finding the patients' and families' preferences. It would provide the hospital team with appropriate information that could be useful during treatment, while also allowing for early detection of any relevant mental health or coping style history that may influence a patient’s well-being during the cancer process.

Recognizing cultural competency when implementing cancer support groups is key in addressing the unmet needs of underserved populations. If a successful model is implemented on a macro level as a mandatory concept for all healthcare practitioners to uphold, then accessibility and quality care has the chance to be executed to enhance quality of life among minority cancer populations.