Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 26, 2025

Competing-Risk Nomogram for Predicting Cancer-Specific Survival in Multiple Primary Colorectal Cancer Patients after Surgery
Published on: September 27, 2024
Racial and ethnic disparities in cancer caregiver burden and potential sociocultural mediators
Anny T H R Fenton1, Katherine A Ornstein2, Peggye Dilworth-Anderson3
1Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA. annyt_fenton@dfci.harvard.edu.
Purpose:
Black and Hispanic cancer patients experience many worse care quality and health outcomes than non-Hispanic White patients, yet less is known about disparities in caregiving responsibilities and burden among cancer caregivers.
Methods:
We analyzed cross-sectional data from Cancer Care Outcomes Research and Surveillance consortium, a large multi-regional, population-based study of colorectal and lung cancer patients and their caregivers. Bivariate and multivariable regression models assessed differences by racial and ethnic groups in caregiving responsibilities and social/emotional, financial, and health burdens. Structural equation models estimated whether sociocultural resources (social support, caregiving preparedness, caregiver-patient communication) mediated racial and ethnic differences in caregiver burden.
Results:
Compared with non-Hispanic White caregivers (N = 1,169), Black (N = 220) and Hispanic (N = 84) caregivers spent more time caregiving (18 vs. 26 vs. 26 h/week; P < 0.001), completed more tasks (6.8 vs. 7.6 vs. 8.7; P < 0.05), and reported greater financial burden (P = 0.02). Yet, compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanic caregivers reported similar social/emotional and health burdens, while Black caregivers reported lower levels (P < 0.01). In adjusted models, disparities in financial burden disappeared, and Hispanic caregivers had less health burden than non-Hispanic White caregivers (P = 0.01). Social support and/or caregiving preparedness partially mediated the Black-White gap for all three types of burdens.
Conclusions:
Black and Hispanic cancer caregivers perform more caregiving and report greater financial burden than non-Hispanic White caregivers, but experience lower or equivalent social/emotional and health burdens. Racial differences in caregivers' social support and caregiving preparedness levels partially explain Black-White burden differences. Research and policy should address Black and Hispanic caregivers' increased financial burden.
Related Concept Videos
Psychological and Sociocultural Causes of Schizophrenia
Surveys
Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Discrimination
Bias in Epidemiological Studies
Barriers to Effective Communication II
Cultural barriers:
Differences in values, beliefs, religion, knowledge, and tradition can significantly impact communication. Awareness of nonverbal cues is critical, especially when conversing with a patient from a different culture. What appears appropriate in one culture may be inappropriate in another.
Semantic barriers:
As a result of their tendency to use...
Cancer Survival Analysis

