Leigh-Ann Sweeney, PhD, is assistant professor, School of Social Work and Social Policy, Trinity College Dublin, University of Dublin, 2 College Green, Dublin 02 VR66, Ireland.
Linda Sharp, PhD, is professor of cancer epidemiology, Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Health Soc Work. 2024 Nov 1;49(4):265-274. doi: 10.1093/hsw/hlae033.
Access to medical and supportive care services is important for the health and quality of life of cancer survivors; however, services are not always available or accessible to all survivors equally. This study aims to explore the experiences of cancer services among cancer survivors in urban and rural settings to inform social work practice. Authors conducted interviews with 25 cancer survivors (colorectal, n = 13; hematological, n = 12) in the West of Ireland, using a narrative inquiry approach. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Authors found variations in the availability of supportive care services for urban and rural cancer survivors. Often, services designed to maximize survivors' individualized choices and needs in community care were limited in rural communities, preventing some survivors from having their physical and psychological needs met. Additionally, access to services proved to be a barrier for rural cancer survivors. Rural survivors stated that traveling to appointments required time and planning, and the implications of travel costs were an increased burden. When rural survivors had good social support, access to services became less of an issue. The study confirms geographical disparities and recommends a review of supports that better meet survivors' needs and informs social work practice.
获得医疗和支持性护理服务对于癌症幸存者的健康和生活质量很重要；然而，并非所有幸存者都能平等地获得或获得所有服务。本研究旨在探讨城市和农村环境中癌症幸存者的癌症服务体验，以为社会工作实践提供信息。作者采用叙事探究方法，对爱尔兰西部的 25 名癌症幸存者（结直肠癌幸存者 13 名；血液癌幸存者 12 名）进行了访谈。采用主题分析对数据进行了分析。作者发现城市和农村癌症幸存者获得支持性护理服务的情况存在差异。通常，旨在最大限度地满足社区护理中幸存者个性化选择和需求的服务在农村社区受到限制，使一些幸存者无法满足其身体和心理需求。此外，获得服务对农村癌症幸存者来说也是一个障碍。农村幸存者表示，前往预约需要时间和计划，而且旅行费用的影响增加了负担。当农村幸存者有良好的社会支持时，获得服务的问题就不那么严重了。该研究证实了地理差异，并建议对支持措施进行审查，以更好地满足幸存者的需求，并为社会工作实践提供信息。
