Issues in internet-based support for chinese-american breast cancer survivors

ABSTRACT

Objective: The incidence of breast cancer in Chinese-Americans is increasing. This article aims to present and discuss the challenges encountered in implementing an Internet-based coaching/support program for Chinese-American breast cancer survivors and to provide direction for future Internet-based interventions targeting this specific population.

Methods: The data were collected from (a) interventionists’ diaries written during individual coaching/support sessions with survivors, (b) minutes taken during research meetings, and (c) written records of issues discussed during the interventions. The data were analyzed using content analysis.

Results: The issues were categorized into eight themes. The following six themes were identified among the survivors: (1) low computer literacy, (2) ambivalent attitudes towards study participation (e.g., joining the project to maintain a harmonious relationship with the gatekeepers versus lack of trust in the project), (3) reticence to share opinions and experiences, (4) struggles with family affairs (e.g., intergenerational cultural dissonance), (5) overvaluing Traditional Chinese Medicine, and (6) specific participants’ preferences (e.g., language, font size, timing). Among the interventionists, the following two themes were identified: (1) recruitment and retention of interventionists and (2) language barriers.

Conclusions: Culture-specific challenges need to be considered when designing and implementing an Internet-based coaching/support program for Chinese-American breast cancer survivors.

KEYWORDS:

• Breast cancer
• survivors
• Internet-based support
• issues

Declaration of interest

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was conducted as a part of a larger study that was funded by the National Cancer Institute (NIH/NCI) under Grant 1R01CA203719; .