The Cancer-Related Experiences of Visible Minorities in Canada
Abstract
Background: Cancer care is multifaceted, encompassing screening, diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. While advances in research have led to improved cancer care experiences, social determinants of health influence health outcomes, revealing disparities among marginalized populations. Of note, visible minorities experience socio-contextual and systemic barriers to care. Despite increased attention to these inequities, relevant literature has not been synthesized, revealing a need for a comprehensive review. This scoping review aims to understand the following objectives: 1) To determine how visible minorities are defined and/or described, 2) To identify which visible minorities have been studied, and 3) to summarize what is known about the cancer-related experiences of visible minorities. Methods: Using JBI scoping review methods, a literature search was initially completed in May 2023 and updated in September 2025, where a noticeable increase in publications was observed. MEDLINE, Embase, Epistemonikos, PsycINFO and CINHAL were used to conduct the search. Eligible studies include primary and population-based research that reports cancer care experiences of visible minority groups in Canadian adults. Studies focusing solely on pediatric populations (<18 years of age) were excluded. Two reviewers independently screened title, abstract, and full text. Disagreements were resolved through discussion until consensus was reached. Data extraction and analysis will be completed in alignment with the research objectives. Results: After duplicates were removed, 2876 articles were screened, of which 44 studies met the eligibility criteria and were included for data extraction. Preliminary results reflect a diversity of cancer diagnoses across Canada. Synthesized results will undergo thematic analysis to answer study objectives and identify gaps in the literature. Conclusion: Review results would underscore the available research on cancer-related experiences of visible minority populations across Canada. Results would highlight the need for future research where the experiences of visible minorities are applied to inform culturally competent care in clinical practice and policymaking.