Hospice residents' interest in complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) at end of life: a pilot study in hospice residences in British Columbia.

While complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) can improve quality of life at end of life, little research exists on hospice residents' interest in using and sharing CAM experiences with a partner/friend/other family member. A pilot study conducted in British Columbia, Canada explored the extent of hospice residents' interest and openness to CAM use. A convenience sample of 48 hospice residents from 9 hospice sites completed questionnaire-based interviews.

Breast cancer treatment and ethnicity in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Racial and ethnic disparities in breast cancer incidence, stage at diagnosis, survival and mortality are well documented; but few studies have reported on disparities in breast cancer treatment. This paper compares the treatment received by breast cancer patients in British Columbia (BC) for three ethnic groups and three time periods. Values for breast cancer treatments received in the BC general population are provided for reference.

The psychosocial screen for cancer (PSSCAN): further validation and normative data.

Background: We have previously reported on the development of a cancer-specific screening instrument for anxiety and depression (PSSCAN). No information on cut-off scores or their meaning for diagnosis was available when PSSCAN was first described. Needed were additional analyses to recommend empirically justified cut-off scores as well as data norms for healthy adult samples so as to lend meaning to the recommended cut-off scores.

Ethnic differences in survival for female cancers of the breast, cervix and colorectum in British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Chinese and South Asians are among the fastest growing minority populations in Canada; however little is known about the burden of cancer in these populations.

Objective: The objective is to examine survival rates for breast, cervical and colorectal cancers in women within these two ethnic populations, as compared to the BC general population.

Methods: Survival rates were calculated for three time periods in the Chinese, South Asian and BC general populations, using the BC cancer registry.

Cancer incidence in Indians from three areas: Delhi and Mumbai, India, and British Columbia, Canada.

Background: Studies of immigrants have provided unique opportunities for examining disparities in cancer screening and the impact of lifestyles and environmental exposures on cancer risk. Findings have been useful for planning cancer control strategies and generating etiological hypotheses. Although India is a leading source of immigration to British Columbia (BC), Canada, little is known about the cancer profiles of Indo-Canadians, information needed for planning health services and health promotion initiatives for this population.

Understanding Canadian Punjabi-speaking South Asian women's experience of breast cancer: a qualitative study.

Background: Knowledge of women's experience with breast cancer is based on studies on middle-class Caucasian women. Generalizations are drawn from the few studies of South Asian women such as lack of desire to discuss personal and family issues. The purpose of this qualitative study was to understand the experience of Canadian Punjabi-speaking South Asian women in order to inform health care practices.

Development and validation of a psychosocial screening instrument for cancer.

Background: We are reporting on the development of a psychosocial screening tool for cancer patients. The tool was to be brief, at a relatively low reading level, capture psychological variables relevant to distress and health-related quality-of-life in cancer patients, possess good reliability and validity, and be free of copyright protection.

Method: Item derivation is described, data on reliability and validity as well as norms are reported for three samples of cancer patients (n = 1057; n = 570, n = 101).