Should culture affect practice? A comparison of prognostic discussions in consultations with immigrant versus native-born cancer patients.

Objective: Poor prognosis is difficult to impart, particularly across a cultural divide. This study compared prognostic communication with immigrants (with and without interpreters) versus native-born patients in audio-taped oncology consultations.

Methods: Ten oncologists, 78 patients (31 Australian-born, 47 immigrants) and 115 family members participated.

Interpretation in consultations with immigrant patients with cancer: how accurate is it?

Purpose: Immigrants with cancer often have professional and/or family interpreters to overcome challenges communicating with their health team. This study explored the rate and consequences of nonequivalent interpretation in medical oncology consultations.

Patients And Methods: Consecutive immigrant patients with newly diagnosed with incurable cancer, who spoke Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, or Greek, were recruited from the practices of 10 medical oncologists in nine hospitals.