McGrath Pam
Centre for Community Science, Population and Social Health Program, Griffith Health Institute, Griffith University, Logan Campus, Queensland, Australia.
Aust J Rural Health. 2015 Oct;23(5):286-90. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12191. Epub 2015 May 6.
This paper contributes to the literature on relocation for specialist care by providing findings on specific issues impacting on rural farmers and property owners who have to travel to the metropolitan area for specialist care for a haematological malignancy.
This paper uses descriptive qualitative research based on 45 interviews with patients with haematology in Queensland. The interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, coded and thematically analysed.
In addition to issues of distance, farmers and rural property owners who have to relocate for specialist care must deal with problems associated with the lack of opportunity to take absence from the property because of the inescapable pressure of daily farm and property responsibilities and the high cost of, or lack of opportunity to, outsource daily maintenance. Further concerns include the cost of relocation in the context of continuing drought, serious problems sustaining the travel and time away required, and the lack of choice for some but to deal with treatment alone.
In recent years there has been considerable progress with regard to overcoming the distance barrier for rural and remote patients with cancer through innovative clinical models using technology and telemedicine. However, there has been limited uptake of such models for patients with haematology. The present findings indicate that from the perspective of rural farmers and property owners there are important reasons why the use of innovative strategies should be fostered and expanded.
本文通过呈现对那些因血液系统恶性肿瘤而前往大城市接受专科护理的农村农民和房产所有者产生影响的具体问题的研究结果,为专科护理转诊的文献做出贡献。
本文采用描述性定性研究,基于对昆士兰州血液科患者的45次访谈。访谈进行了录音,逐字转录,编码并进行了主题分析。
除了距离问题外,那些必须为专科护理而搬迁的农民和农村房产所有者还必须应对一些问题,这些问题包括因日常农场和房产责任带来的无法逃避的压力而缺乏离开房产的机会,以及日常维护外包成本高昂或缺乏外包机会。其他担忧还包括在持续干旱的背景下搬迁的成本、维持所需行程和离开时间的严重问题,以及一些人别无选择只能独自应对治疗。
近年来,通过使用技术和远程医疗的创新临床模式,在克服农村和偏远地区癌症患者的距离障碍方面取得了相当大的进展。然而,血液科患者对这种模式的采用有限。目前的研究结果表明,从农村农民和房产所有者的角度来看,有重要理由促进和扩大创新策略的使用。