Ethnic variation in cancer patients’ ratings of information provision, communication and overall care

Lorna Trenchard,Louise Mc Grath-Lone,Helen Ward

doi:10.1080/13557858.2015.1126561

Lorna Trenchard, Louise Mc Grath-Lone + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/13557858.2015.1126561

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Journal: Ethnicity & Health	Publication Date: Feb 7, 2016
Citations: 10	License type: open-access

Affiliation: Imperial College London

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective. Ethnic inequalities in cancer patient experience exist but variation within broad ethnic categories is under-explored. This study aimed to describe variation by ethnic sub-category in experiences of information provision and communication (key domains of patient experience) using National Cancer Patient Experience Survey (NCPES) data.Design. The NCPES 2012–2013 contained responses from 68,737 cancer patients treated at 155 NHS Trusts in England. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate associations between ethnicity and patients’ ratings of overall care, information provision and communication.Results. Variation by and within broad ethnic categories was evident. Non-White patients (particularly Asian patients (ORadj:0.78; 95%CI:0.67-0.90, p=0.001)) were less likely than White patients to receive an understandable explanation of treatment side effects. Among Asian patients, those of Bangladeshi ethnicity were least likely to receive an understandable explanation.Conclusions. Effective communication and information provision are important to ensure patients are well informed, receive the best possible care and have a positive patient experience. However, ethnic inequalities exist in cancer patients’ experiences of information provision and communication with variation evident both between and within broad ethnic categories. Further work to understand the causes of this variation is required to address ethnic inequalities at practice and policy level.

Highlights

Cancer care and treatment is a resource-intensive area of healthcare which is set to expand, due in part to an ageing population
Ethnic disparities in patient experience are well documented in the NHS, with many studies finding that non-White patients report less positive experiences than White British groups across a range of healthcare services (Raleigh et al 2007; Sizmur 2011; Lyratzopoulos et al 2012; Henderson, Gao, and Redshaw 2013), including cancer care (Quality Health 2013; Bone et al 2014)
There was variation between ethnic categories with non-White patients ( Chinese and Asian patients) significantly less likely to rate their care positively compared to White patients (Table 2)

Summary

Introduction

Cancer care and treatment is a resource-intensive area of healthcare which is set to expand, due in part to an ageing population. It is becoming more complex as treatment options increase and more patients have co-morbidities. Equality Initiative 2010; Koh, Graham, and Glied 2011; Department of Health 2011a) Despite these strategies, patients’ experience of cancer care is known to vary by sociodemographic factors such as ethnicity (Ayanian et al 2005; Shadmi et al 2010; Penner et al 2013). Ethnic disparities in patient experience are well documented in the NHS, with many studies finding that non-White patients (especially Chinese and Asian groups) report less positive experiences than White British groups across a range of healthcare services (Raleigh et al 2007; Sizmur 2011; Lyratzopoulos et al 2012; Henderson, Gao, and Redshaw 2013), including cancer care (Quality Health 2013; Bone et al 2014)

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