Department of Community Health and Epidemiology and Department of Surgery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Department of Community Health and Epidemiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.
Can J Nurs Res. 2024 Jun;56(2):178-188. doi: 10.1177/08445621241230099. Epub 2024 Feb 19.
Cancer incidence has increased for First Nations and Métis Peoples in Canada over recent years. Despite a growing cancer burden, there remain challenges to accessing culturally appropriate and quality care in Saskatchewan.
The study aimed to explore, from cancer survivors' perspectives, the potential of Indigenous patient navigators to enhance the healthcare experiences of First Nations and Métis cancer survivors in Saskatchewan.
We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 First Nations and Métis cancer survivors. Participants were interviewed by phone between May 2022 to March 2023. Thematic analysis was conducted to generate themes, categories, and codes reflecting participants' experiences with patient navigators.
Participants reported several supports to help patients with cancer through their cancer journey, including family, community, traditional ways, and First Nations and Métis health support services. Challenges to accessing care included language and communication barriers, logistical challenges, cultural differences, financial challenges, and gaps in care. Indigenous patient navigators may play a critical role in overcoming barriers by providing communication, translation, coordination, education, advocacy, and guidance to Indigenous cancer survivors. In participants' view, the tasks of Indigenous patient navigators could vary, ranging from helping schedule appointments to advocating for the patient's treatment preferences. In addition, Indigenous patient navigators could be helpful bridging Western medicine with traditional medicine when supporting patients seeking cancer care.
According to study participants, Indigenous patient navigators could be beneficial to Indigenous cancer survivors in Saskatchewan.
近年来，加拿大原住民和梅蒂斯人的癌症发病率有所上升。尽管癌症负担不断增加，但萨斯喀彻温省在获得文化上适宜和优质的护理方面仍然存在挑战。
本研究旨在从癌症幸存者的角度探讨原住民患者导航员的潜力，以增强萨斯喀彻温省原住民和梅蒂斯癌症幸存者的医疗保健体验。
我们对 19 名原住民和梅蒂斯癌症幸存者进行了半结构化访谈。参与者于 2022 年 5 月至 2023 年 3 月期间通过电话接受了采访。采用主题分析生成主题、类别和代码，反映参与者与患者导航员的体验。
参与者报告了一些支持，以帮助癌症患者完成癌症治疗过程，包括家庭、社区、传统方式以及原住民和梅蒂斯健康支持服务。在获得医疗保健方面面临的挑战包括语言和沟通障碍、后勤挑战、文化差异、经济挑战和护理差距。原住民患者导航员可以通过为原住民癌症幸存者提供沟通、翻译、协调、教育、宣传和指导，在克服障碍方面发挥关键作用。根据参与者的观点，原住民患者导航员的任务可能有所不同，从帮助安排预约到倡导患者的治疗偏好。此外，原住民患者导航员在支持寻求癌症护理的患者时，可以在将西方医学与传统医学相结合方面提供帮助。
根据研究参与者的说法，原住民患者导航员对萨斯喀彻温省的原住民癌症幸存者可能是有益的。
