How do cultural beliefs influence family involvement in cancer care?
Family involvement in cancer care varies widely across cultures. In collectivist societies, such as those in Latin America and Asia, family members often play a central role in decision-making and caregiving. This can provide strong emotional support for the patient but may also lead to conflicts if the patient's wishes differ from those of the family. In individualistic cultures, such as those in the United States and Europe, patients may prefer to make independent decisions, sometimes leading to feelings of isolation.