Pradhan Poorva, Hughes Helen, Sharman Ashleigh R, Lacey Judith, Dwyer Patrick, Hill Jacques, Davis Kimberley J, Craig Steven, Wu Raymond, Ashford Bruce, Mitchell Jenny, Clark Jonathan R, Elliott Michael, Palme Carsten E, Venchiarutti Rebecca L
Department of Head and Neck Surgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia.
Cancer Australia, Surry Hills, New South Wales, Australia.
Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2025 May 5. doi: 10.1111/ajco.14179.
Head and neck cancer (HNC) survivors experience complex survivorship needs compared to other cancer types. This is exacerbated for people living in regional and remote (rural) areas of Australia, who experience poorer outcomes, higher physical and psychological needs, and poorer quality of life compared to their metropolitan counterparts. Little is known about the general survivorship experiences of rural HNC survivors in New South Wales (NSW), Australia. This study aims to explore the general survivorship experiences of people living with HNC in rural areas of NSW, Australia.
HNC survivors living in rural NSW were recruited, and semi-structured interviews were conducted to explore their general survivorship experiences. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a qualitative thematic analysis approach until saturation of themes was reached.
Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 17 participants, with a mean age of 65 years. The most common diagnoses were oral cavity (41%) and oropharyngeal cancers (29%). Six key themes emerged around general survivorship experiences among participants: 1) financial impacts, 2) physical effects, 3) psychosocial effects, 4) clinical management, 5) information and support needs, and 6) access.
Rural cancer survivors face unique survivorship concerns, exacerbated by living further from specialist care. The unmet needs of people living in rural areas include financial reimbursement, psychosocial services and support, and access to survivorship care closer to home. Understanding cancer survivors' experiences throughout the care journey can identify unmet needs. By recognizing these needs, they can be more readily addressed by government policy and other interventions.
与其他癌症类型相比，头颈癌（HNC）幸存者面临着复杂的生存需求。对于生活在澳大利亚地区和偏远（农村）地区的人来说，这种情况更加严重，与大城市的同龄人相比，他们的治疗结果更差，身体和心理需求更高，生活质量更低。对于澳大利亚新南威尔士州（NSW）农村地区的头颈癌幸存者的总体生存经历知之甚少。本研究旨在探索澳大利亚新南威尔士州农村地区头颈癌患者的总体生存经历。
招募了居住在新南威尔士州农村地区的头颈癌幸存者，并进行了半结构化访谈，以探索他们的总体生存经历。访谈进行了录音、转录，并采用定性主题分析方法进行分析，直至主题饱和。
对17名参与者进行了半结构化访谈，他们的平均年龄为65岁。最常见的诊断是口腔癌（41%）和口咽癌（29%）。围绕参与者的总体生存经历出现了六个关键主题：1）经济影响，2）身体影响，3）心理社会影响，4）临床管理，5）信息和支持需求，6）就医机会。
农村癌症幸存者面临着独特的生存问题，由于距离专科护理机构较远，这些问题更加严重。农村地区居民未得到满足的需求包括经济补偿、心理社会服务和支持，以及在家附近获得生存护理的机会。了解癌症幸存者在整个护理过程中的经历可以识别未得到满足的需求。通过认识到这些需求，可以更容易地通过政府政策和其他干预措施来解决。
