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The experiences of South Asian women with breast cancer and the complexities of whole person care

The experiences of South Asian women with breast cancer and the complexities of whole person care
The experiences of South Asian women with breast cancer and the complexities of whole person care
This study investigates the experiences of South Asian women being treated for breast cancer within a British system of health and social care that recognises racialised inequalities in care and is striving to provide culturally sensitive care to an increasingly diverse population. The research was conducted in a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in an outer London suburb. It is a qualitative exploratory study based on eighteen in- depth interviews and participant observation of interactions between women with breast cancer and health care professionals. The interviews were conducted in three languages: English, Gujarati and Hindi.

In examining whole person care from the perspectives of both health care professionals and South Asian women, this thesis demonstrates how ethnicity as both a category of social difference and a process of social identification can present significant challenges for holistic care at different stages of the patient pathway. The concept of othering is used to make sense of the complicated relationships between health care professionals and South Asian women and to examine the extent to which care is responsive to differences of ethnicity, culture and faith.

The findings from participant observation and qualitative interview data suggest that health professionals can often reduce the complex experiences of South Asian women to cultural difference. Such thinking can serve to compromise therapeutic relationships in which mutual power sharing and decision making is inhibited. However, cultural stereotyping is not a uniform process and can be transformed in situ so that some women are able to access personalised and holistic care. Whilst recognising that the needs of South Asian are complex evidence from this study suggests that othering can be a central process through which health care professionals contribute to the marginalisation of South Asian women within health care services.
breast cancer, whole person care, experiences, south asian women, cultural difference
Tailor, Bharti
e02b5bd7-ea19-4860-a047-fb3e6cc1b6f1
Tailor, Bharti
e02b5bd7-ea19-4860-a047-fb3e6cc1b6f1
Corner, Jessica
eddc9d69-aa12-4de5-8ab0-b20a6b5765fa
Froggat, Katherine
d5d5001f-88ad-4403-b299-175b7df27dfc
Gunaratnam, Yasmin
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Tailor, Bharti (2008) The experiences of South Asian women with breast cancer and the complexities of whole person care. University of Southampton, School of Health Sciences, Doctoral Thesis, 310pp.

Record type: Thesis (Doctoral)

Abstract

This study investigates the experiences of South Asian women being treated for breast cancer within a British system of health and social care that recognises racialised inequalities in care and is striving to provide culturally sensitive care to an increasingly diverse population. The research was conducted in a National Health Service (NHS) Trust in an outer London suburb. It is a qualitative exploratory study based on eighteen in- depth interviews and participant observation of interactions between women with breast cancer and health care professionals. The interviews were conducted in three languages: English, Gujarati and Hindi.

In examining whole person care from the perspectives of both health care professionals and South Asian women, this thesis demonstrates how ethnicity as both a category of social difference and a process of social identification can present significant challenges for holistic care at different stages of the patient pathway. The concept of othering is used to make sense of the complicated relationships between health care professionals and South Asian women and to examine the extent to which care is responsive to differences of ethnicity, culture and faith.

The findings from participant observation and qualitative interview data suggest that health professionals can often reduce the complex experiences of South Asian women to cultural difference. Such thinking can serve to compromise therapeutic relationships in which mutual power sharing and decision making is inhibited. However, cultural stereotyping is not a uniform process and can be transformed in situ so that some women are able to access personalised and holistic care. Whilst recognising that the needs of South Asian are complex evidence from this study suggests that othering can be a central process through which health care professionals contribute to the marginalisation of South Asian women within health care services.

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More information

Published date: July 2008
Keywords: breast cancer, whole person care, experiences, south asian women, cultural difference
Organisations: University of Southampton

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 71891
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/71891
PURE UUID: baef26d2-3f02-48d3-a115-9e7f3df2cf48

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 08 Jan 2010
Last modified: 13 Mar 2024 20:53

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Contributors

Author: Bharti Tailor
Thesis advisor: Jessica Corner
Thesis advisor: Katherine Froggat
Thesis advisor: Yasmin Gunaratnam

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