Issues Related to Psychosocial Intervention with Hispanic Families in a Pediatric Cancer Setting

Abstract

This article represents an effort to sensitize mental health professionals to the special needs of Hispanic families confronted with a diagnosis of childhood cancer. This diagnosis can be especially devastating to the family that lives in another country or in Puerto Rico and brings the child to the United States for treatment. The author provides pertinent information about the Hispanic family structure, culture, and belief systems. In addition, she discusses how Spanish-speaking mental health professionals in a cancer-care setting can help the family adjust to its new surroundings by (I) enlisting friends and members of the extended family as sources of emotional support and concrete assistance and (2) educating other staff about the need for flexibility when dealing with the family.