Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, The University of Western Australia, 167 Fitzgerald Street, Geraldton, Western Australia 6530, Australia.
Radiation Oncology, South West Radiation Oncology Service, South West Health Campus, Corner of Bussell Hwy & Robertson Drive, Bunbury, Western Australia 6230, Australia.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Feb 14;15(2):337. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15020337.
Travel logistics impede Aboriginal patients' uptake of cancer treatments and is one reason for the poorer outcomes of Aboriginal people with cancer. This research examined benefits of a newly established rurally based radiotherapy unit in southwest Western Australia (WA), and included exploring the experience of Aboriginal patients and possible reasons for Aboriginal people's underrepresentation in treatment. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with 21 service providers involved in the treatment and care of people with cancer, and 3 Aboriginal patients with cancer who undertook radiotherapy at the Service were undertaken. Data were subject to thematic analysis involving immersion in the data for familiarization, inductive coding, investigator discussion and refining of emerging themes and triangulation of patient and provider interviews. Aboriginal cancer patients were positive about the treatment and support they had received, highlighting the often complex challenges faced by rural Aboriginal cancer patients in accessing and maintaining treatment. Service providers offered suggestions for small numbers presenting to the Service, including late presentation, potential perceptions of cultural insensitivity on the part of service providers, out-of-pocket costs and under-ascertainment of Aboriginal status. The Service has put in place practices and initiatives to support patient health and wellbeing, including making the facility more welcoming towards Aboriginal people and ensuring culturally appropriate care.
旅行物流阻碍了原住民患者接受癌症治疗，这也是原住民癌症患者治疗效果较差的原因之一。本研究考察了西澳大利亚州西南部新成立的农村放射治疗单位的效益，并探讨了原住民患者的体验以及原住民在治疗中代表性不足的可能原因。对参与癌症治疗和护理的 21 名服务提供者以及在该服务机构接受放射治疗的 3 名原住民癌症患者进行了半结构化深入访谈。对数据进行了主题分析，包括沉浸在数据中以熟悉数据、归纳编码、调查员讨论和完善新兴主题以及对患者和提供者访谈进行三角分析。原住民癌症患者对他们所接受的治疗和支持表示肯定，强调了农村原住民癌症患者在获得和维持治疗方面所面临的往往是复杂的挑战。服务提供者为该服务机构患者数量较少提出了一些建议，包括就诊较晚、服务提供者可能存在文化敏感性不足的看法、自费费用以及对原住民身份的认定不足。该服务机构已采取措施和举措来支持患者的健康和福祉，包括使设施更欢迎原住民以及确保提供文化适宜的护理。
