Takeaways from Episode 3 of the Heart and Soul of Oncology Navigation Podcast: Challenges with Disparate Populations

In this episode of the AONN+ Heart and Soul of Oncology Navigation podcast, AONN+ Leadership Council members Linda Burhansstipanov, MSPH, DrPH, and Linda Fleisher, PhD, MPH, focus on cultural humility and the health disparities that exist among different cultures.

Culture defines how healthcare information is received. Some cultures don’t recognize certain problems as valid health threats and will express their symptoms and concerns differently. Who provides treatment for the problem and what type of treatment should be given may also be dependent on culture.

Burhansstipanov and Fleisher speak on the different cultures they work directly with and pointed out the following in their discussion:

1. Many of the same barriers exist through different cultures, such as transportation or literacy, but the solutions to these barriers vary
2. For patients with cancer, treatment may not always be their priority. They may also be dealing with poverty, eviction, or other challenges that come before their treatment
3. Oncology navigators should leverage community resources and share their experience to aid other oncology navigators who have patients who may be encountering the same cultural disparities

Drs Burhansstipanov and Fleisher concluded this AONN+ podcast episode with a final takeaway: providing support to underserved communities may not be easy, but with the help of a professional organization of oncology navigators, like AONN+, you are armed with the newest tools and resources in patient navigation and made part of a knowledge-sharing community of experienced oncology navigators.