Abstract CN55
Background
In the UK it is people from non-white and non-English speaking communities have a poorer experience of cancer care than those of a white, UK ethnicity. The National Cancer Patient Experience Survey has shown this over the last three years. Poorly performing questions for these communities ask respondents whether they received all information needed on cancer tests and whether results were explained in an understandable way In West Berkshire a project group was formed to address this with representatives from an Acute Hospital, a Community Comissioning Group, a cancer charity, a regional Cancer Alliance and the facilitator of a community group (the ‘Cancer Champions'). The project took a well evaluated leaflet on tests in English and translated it into three languages, Nepalese, Urdu and Polish. These represent the largest non-English speaking communities in West Berkshire.
Methods
The leaflet was taken to focus groups from three communities (Neplaese, Urdu-speaking and Polish-speaking) and was firstly presented in English and views captured via a questionairre, then the same in the translated language. Structure, visual presentation, use of pictures and translation quality was appraised. The groups considered what other support might be necessary alongside the leaflet, (eg who might group members contact if they were concerned about tests for cancer) and whether the information would be more impactful in a different format. These improvements will be made, including provision in other formats and presented back to these focus groups.
Results
All communities believed the leaflet in their own language was more useful than English and some believed that a format with more pictures and simplified text would be better. All believed that a short film on ‘cancer tests' would be useful. Groups will continue to appraise this information but could also be used to consider the views of non-English speaking populations for a range of issues in cancer care. The results will be presented graphically and more results will be available on presentation.
Conclusions
The focus group methodology and the use of PDSA cycles is an effective way of improving information given to non-English speaking community groups and a range of additional benefits to populations and to cancer care in West Berkshire will be presented.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.