African Americans (AA) have the highest incidence and death rates from all cancers combined in the U.S. Adequate assessment and treatment of depression in AA cancer patients is essential to reduce this cancer disparity. Our knowledge of AA cancer patients’ depression is extremely limited at this time.
Currently no available instrument has been well validated for screening depression of AA cancer patients, despite increasing evidence of cultural insensitivity of depression measures for African Americans. It is imperative to develop a culturally sensitive screening instrument that can provide adequate referral and needed care for depressed AA cancer patients. This requires a deep understanding of the lived depressive experience of African American cancer patients. |
