Unmet needs of culturally and linguistically diverse cancer survivors in Australia: A systematic review

Unmet needs of culturally and linguistically diverse cancer survivors in Australia: A systematic review

Purpose
This systematic review aimed to identify the unmet needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) cancer survivors in Australia, defined as individuals from non-English-speaking countries and/or those who do not speak English at home. It also examined the factors associated with the identified unmet needs, along with suggestions and recommendations to address them.
Methods
Seven databases were systematically searched from their inception to November 2024. Studies focused on the unmet needs of CALD cancer survivors in Australia, regardless of the study design, were included. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool was used to assess the methodological quality of the included studies, and content analysis and descriptive analysis were adopted for data analysis.
Results
Six studies were included, comprising two quantitative and four qualitative studies. The quality of the included studies was moderate to high, with four included studies meeting 100 % of the criteria. The most reported unmet needs among CALD cancer survivors were related to the health system and information, followed by psychological well-being, and patient care and support. Language barriers and cultural beliefs were the main factors associated with their unmet needs. Translated written material with culturally tailored information was the most recommended approach to address their unmet needs.
Conclusion
CALD cancer survivors in Australia experienced unmet needs, especially culturally specific information related to cancer rehabilitation. Providing culturally tailored health resources and information in their languages or establishing multilingual platforms would effectively enhance health information provision and address unmet needs. Policymakers should consider transcultural training for healthcare providers.