Differences of biopsychosocial distress and requests for psychological assistance between Asian American and non-Hispanic White oncology patients

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to compare Asian American (AA) to non-Hispanic White (NHW) cancer patients regarding biopsychosocial distress and requests for psychological assistance.MethodsThis retrospective study included 5627 eligible patients, newly diagnosed with cancer, who completed the 30-item SupportScreen & REG; survey of biopsychosocial distress. The top 10 sources of high distress were assessed. Distress domains (Emotional, Physical/Functional, and Practical) were examined by race/ethnicity. Requests for psychological assistance were also explored by ethnic groups.ResultsOverall, the top 10 sources of high distress were similar between groups and approximately half consisted of concerns regarding physical symptoms. All patients preferred "talking" as their method of receiving assistance for these items. Ratings of emotional, practical, and physical/functional distress were similar between AA and NHW patients. However, AAs (vs. NHWs) requested more assistance regarding physical/functional and practical distress. No difference was observed between these two groups regarding requests for emotional support.ConclusionsOverall, our study suggests that healthcare providers should be aware of the physical and practical needs of AA cancer patients and provide culturally sensitive care that addresses these needs.