Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multicultural Aspects of Care for Cancer Patients in Israel

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients

Abstract

Care for cancer patients from diverse cultural groups requires cultural competence, including cultural awareness, knowledge, and specific skills. Israel, a multicultural state with many subgroups of Jews and Arabs, displays diverse degrees of religiosity and variety along the continuum from traditional to Western lifestyle. This chapter draws on the very few existing studies of multicultural aspects of care for cancer patients in Israel. It focuses mainly on two specific and culturally distinct groups in Israel: Arabs and ultra-orthodox Jews. It describes perceptions of cancer in the familial and societal context and elaborates aspects of psychosocial interventions in the multicultural context. It concludes with thoughts on how to use cultural knowledge to promote the care of cancer patients.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 249.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Aarons GA, Sawitzky AC. Organizational climate partially mediates the effect of culture on work attitudes and staff turnover in mental health services. Adm Policy Ment Health. 2006;33(3):289–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Al-Krenawi A, Graham JR. Culturally sensitive social work practice with Arab clients in mental health settings. Health Soc Work. 2000;25(1):9–22.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Albrecht TL, Goldsmith DJ. Social support, social networks, and health. In: Thompson TL, Dorsey AM, Miller KI, Parrott R, editors. Handbook of health communication. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates; 2003. p. 263–84.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Andersen MR, Bowen DJ, Morea J, Stein KD, Baker F. Involvement in decision-making and breast cancer survivor quality of life. Health Psychol. 2009;28(1):29–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Angel RJ, Williams K. Cultural models of health and illness. In: Cuellar I, Paniagua FA, editors. Handbook of multicultural mental health. San Diego, CA: Academic; 2000. p. 27–44.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ashing-Giwa K, Kagawa-Singer M. Infusing culture into oncology research on quality of life. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2006;33:31–6.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Azaiza F. Patterns of labor division among Palestinian families in the West Bank. Global Dev Stud. 2004;3:201–20.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Azaiza F. Meanings of the concept “Self-Help” among Jewish and Arab students living in Israel. J Hum Behav Soc Environ. 2005;11(1):23–35.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Azaiza F. The perception and utilization of social support in times of cultural change: the case of Arabs in Israel. Int J Soc Welfare. 2008;17(3):198–203.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Azaiza F, Cohen M. Health beliefs and rates of breast cancer screening among Arab women. J Womens Health. 2006;15(5):520–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Azaiza F, Cohen M. Between traditional and modern perceptions of breast and cervical cancer screenings: a qualitative study of Arab women in Israel. Psychooncology. 2008;17:34–41.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Azaiza F, Cohen M. Colorectal cancer screening patterns, intentions, and predictors in Jewish and Arab Israelis. Health Educ Behav. 2008;35(4):198–203.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Azaiza F, Abu-Baker K, Hertz-Lazarowitz R, Ghanem A. Arab women in Israel: current status and future trends. Tel Aviv: Ramot Publishing; 2009.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Azaiza F, Cohen M, Awad M, Daoud F. Factors associated with low-screening for breast cancer in the Palestinian Authority. Cancer. 2010;116(19):4646–55.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Baider L, Peretz T, Kaplan De-Nour A. Effect of the Holocaust on coping with cancer. Soc Sci Med. 1992;34(1):11–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Baider L, Peretz T, Hadani PE, Perry S, Avramov R, De-Nour AK. Transmission of response to trauma? Second-generation Holocaust survivors’ reaction to cancer. Am J Psychiatry. 2000;157(6):904–10.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Baron-Epel O. Attitudes and beliefs associated with mammography in a multiethnic population in Israel. Health Educ Behav. 2010;37:227–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Baron-Epel O, Klin A. Cancer as perceived by a middle-aged Jewish urban population in Israel. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2009;36(6):E326–34.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Baron-Epel O, Granot M, Badarna S, Avrami S. Perceptions of breast cancer among Arab Israeli women. Women Health. 2004;40(2):101–16.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Ben Ari A, Azaiza F. Associated meanings of the concept ‘self-help’: a comparison between Jewish and Arab populations living in Israel. Soc Dev Issues. 1995;17(2/3):127–40.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Ben-David Y. The Bedouin in Israel. Resource document. Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2011. http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/Bedouin.html. Accessed 2 March 2011.

  22. Ben-David A, Gilbar O. Family, migration, and psychosocial adjustment to illness. Soc Work Health Care. 1997;26(2):53–67.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Ben-Zur H. Your coping strategy and my distress: inter-spouse perceptions of coping and adjustment among breast cancer patients and their spouses. Fam Syst Health. 2001;19(1): 83–94.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  24. Betancourt JR, Green AR, Carrillo JE, Ananeh-Firempong OII. Defining cultural competence: a practical framework for addressing racial/ethnic disparities in health and health care. Public Health Rep. 2003;118:293–312.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Bhui K, Warfal N, Edonyal P, McKenzie K, Bhugra D. Cultural competence in mental health care: a review of model evaluations. BMC Health Serv Res. 2007;7:15.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Bilu Y, Witztum E. Working with Jewish Ultra-Orthodox patients: guidelines for a culturally sensitive therapy. Cult Med Psychiatry. 1993;17:197–233.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Cohen M. Coping and emotional distress in primary and recurrent breast cancer patients. J Clin Psychol Med Settings. 2002;9(3):245–51.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Cohen M, Azaiza F. Early breast cancer detection practices, health beliefs and cancer worries in Jewish and Arab women. Prev Med. 2005;41:852–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Cohen M, Azaiza F. Increasing breast examinations among Arab women using a tailored culture-based intervention. Behav Med. 2010;36:92–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Cohen M, Arad S, Lorber M, Pollack S. Psychological distress, life stressors, and social support in new immigrants with HIV. Behav Med. 2007;33(2):45–54.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Cohen M, Abdallah Mabjish A, Zidan J. Comparison of Arab breast cancer survivors and healthy controls for spousal relationship, body image, and emotional distress. Qual Life Res. 2011;20(2):191–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  32. Cohen M, Gagin R, Cinamon T, Stein T, Moscovitz M (2011). Adapting of the distress thermometer to screening for emotional distress in multicultural groups of cancer patients in Israel. Qual Life Res. [Epub ahead of print].

    Google Scholar 

  33. Comas-Díaz L. Multicultural approaches to psychotherapy. In: Norcross JC, VandenBos GR, Freedheim DK, editors. History of psychotherapy: continuity and change. 2nd ed. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association; 2011. p. 243–67.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  34. Dwairy M. Foundations of psychosocial dynamic personality theory of collective people. Clin Psychol Rev. 2002;22:343–60.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Dwairy M, Achoui M, Abouserie R, Farah A. Adolescent-family connectedness among Arabs: a second cross-regional research study. J Cross Cult Psychol. 2006;37:248–61.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  36. Eshun S, Caldwell-Colbert T. Culture and mood disorders. In: Eshun S, Regan AR, Gurung BA, editors. Culture and mental health: sociocultural influences, theory, and practice. Hoboken: Wiley-Blackwell; 2009. p. 181–95. doi:10.1002/9781444305807.ch9.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Fawzy FI, Fawzy NW, Arndt LA, Pasnau RO. Critical review of psychosocial interventions in cancer care. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 1995;52(2):100–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Freund A, Cohen M, Azaiza, F (in preparation). Perceptions of barriers to screening of ultra-orthodox Jewish women in Israel.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Goldblat H, Cohen M, Azaiza F, Rimon M (in press). Perceptions, emotional reactions and ways of coping of Arab and Jewish women with breast cancer. Psychooncology.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Greenberg D, Kalian M, Witzum E. Value-sensitive psychiatric rehabilitation. Transcult Psychiatry. 2010;47(4):629–46.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Holland JC, Lewis S. The human side of cancer. New York: Harper Collins; 2000.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Israel National Cancer Registry. Cancer incidence tables. All sites combined. Resource document. 2010. http://www.health.gov.il/pages/default.asp?maincat=22&catId=183&PageId=3088. Accessed 2 March 2011.

  43. Kagawa-Singer M, Blackhall LJ. Negotiating cross-cultural issues at the end of life. J Am Med Assoc. 2001;286:2993–3001.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Kimron L, Cohen M (under review). Coping and emotional distress during acute hospitalization of older persons experiencing earlier trauma: the case of elderly Holocaust survivors. Qual Life Res.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Kreitler S. The effects of cultural diversity on providing health services. EDTNA ERCA J. 2005;31:93–8.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  46. Lavee Y, Katz R. The family in Israel: between tradition and modernity. Marriage Fam Rev. 2003;35(1–2):193–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  47. Margolese HC. Engaging in psychotherapy with the Orthodox Jew: a critical review. Am J Psychother. 1998;5(1):37–53.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Mizrahi I, Kaplan G, Milshtein E, Reshef BP, Baruch GB. Coping simultaneously with 2 stressors: immigrants with ovarian cancer. Cancer Nurs. 2008;31(2):126–33.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Mor P, Oberle K. Ethical issues related to BRCA gene testing in Orthodox Jewish women. Nurs Ethics. 2008;15(4):512–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Newell SA, Sanson-Fisher RW, Savolainen NJ. Systematic review of psychological therapies for cancer patients: overview and recommendations for future research. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2002;94:558–84.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Patterson M, Malley-Morrison K. Cognitive-ecological approach to elder abuse in five cultures: human rights and education. Educ Gerontol. 2006;32:73–82.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  52. Peña ED. Lost in translation: methodological considerations in cross-cultural research. Child Dev. 2007;78:1255–64.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Remennick LI. “Women with a Russian accent” in Israel: on the gender aspects of immigration. Eur J Womens Stud. 1999;6(4):441–61.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Shaya F, Gbarayor CM. The case for cultural competence in health professions education. Am J Pharm Educ. 2006;70(6):124.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  55. Stirrat GM, Gill R. Autonomy in medical ethics after O’Neill. J Med Ethics. 2005;31: 127–30.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Surbone A. Cultural aspects of communication in cancer care. Support Care Cancer. 2008;16:235–40.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. The Israel Central Bureau of Statistics. Israel in figures. Resource document. 2010. http://www1.cbs.gov.il/publications/isr_in_n10e.pdf. Accessed 2 March 2011.

  58. Walker LM, Bischoff TF, Robinson JW. Supportive expressive group therapy for women with advanced ovarian cancer. Int J Group Psychother. 2010;60(3):407–27.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Weingart SN, Zhu J, Chiappetta L, Stuver SO, Schneider EC, Epstein AM, et al. Hospitalized patients’ participation and its impact on quality of care and patient safety. Int J Qual Health Care. 2011;23(3):269–77.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Yakhnich L. Immigration as a multiple-stressor situation: stress and coping among immigrants from the Soviet Union in Israel. Int J Stress Manage. 2008;15:252–68.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gerontology and School of Social Work, University of Haifa, Haifa, 31905, Israel

    Miri Cohen

Authors
  1. Miri Cohen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miri Cohen .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Department of Medicine, New York University Medical School, First Avenue 530, New York, 10016, USA

    Antonella Surbone

  2. Institute of Oncology, Zaloška 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Slovenia

    Matjaž Zwitter

  3. Institute of Oncology, Zaloška 2, Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana-Center, Slovenia

    Mirjana Rajer

  4. 38th Street 2838, Astoria, 11103, New York, USA

    Richard Stiefel

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2013 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Cohen, M. (2013). Multicultural Aspects of Care for Cancer Patients in Israel. In: Surbone, A., Zwitter, M., Rajer, M., Stiefel, R. (eds) New Challenges in Communication with Cancer Patients. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3369-9_27

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3369-9_27

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4614-3368-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-3369-9

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation