Exploring the Financial Impact of Breast Cancer for African American Medically Underserved Women: A Qualitative Study
- 1 August 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Project MUSE in Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
- Vol. 20 (3), 721-728
- https://doi.org/10.1353/hpu.0.0176
Abstract
In addition to the physical suffering experienced by cancer survivors, there are considerable financial hardships and access barriers to quality health care. The current study explored the financial burden of breast cancer on African American medically underserved women. Four focus groups were conducted in three major cities across Tennessee. Research participants (N=36) were recruited by the staff of cancer support and treatment programs in the area. Findings revealed that participants’ lack of insurance or inadequate insurance resulted in missed, delayed, or fewer treatment opportunities. The financial burden of cancer was not limited to the acute treatment phase. The women in the current study reported extreme economic hardship resulting from this disease into long-term survivorship. This exploratory study confirms the importance of providing care across the continuum to address the complex needs of low-income cancer survivors.Keywords
This publication has 23 references indexed in Scilit:
- Research institute for nurse scientists responds to the challenge to expand and strengthen research focused on breast cancer in African American womenCancer, 2007
- Breast biopsy and race/ethnicity among women without breast cancerCancer Detection Prevention, 2006
- The effect of race/ethnicity and insurance in the administration of standard therapy for local breast cancer in FloridaBreast Cancer Research and Treatment, 2005
- Cancer Survivorship: A New Challenge in Comprehensive Cancer ControlCancer Causes & Control, 2005
- Breast Cancer Screening Among African American Women: Adherence to Current RecommendationsJournal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, 2005
- Cancer Survivorship Research Among Ethnic Minority and Medically Underserved GroupsOncology Nursing Forum, 2002
- Predictors of Breast Cancer Screening in a Panel Study of African American WomenWomen & Health, 2001
- The Cessation of Cancer Treatment as a CrisisSocial Work in Health Care, 1999
- Barriers to follow‐up of abnormal screening mammograms among low‐income minority womenEthnicity & Health, 1996
- Breast cancer control among the underserved — An overviewBreast Cancer Research and Treatment, 1996