The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia
Background: People living in rural areas who have a diagnosis of cancer have poorer outcomes than people living in urban centers. The reasons for this are unclear. Little is known about the impact that living in a rural area has on the diagnosis and treatment decisions of these people and how these...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
2010
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11868 |
| _version_ | 1848747919697510400 |
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| author | Mcconigley, Ruth Holloway, Kristi Smith, J. Halkett, Georgia Keyser, J. Aoun, Samar Monterosso, Leanne |
| author_facet | Mcconigley, Ruth Holloway, Kristi Smith, J. Halkett, Georgia Keyser, J. Aoun, Samar Monterosso, Leanne |
| author_sort | Mcconigley, Ruth |
| building | Curtin Institutional Repository |
| collection | Online Access |
| description | Background: People living in rural areas who have a diagnosis of cancer have poorer outcomes than people living in urban centers. The reasons for this are unclear. Little is known about the impact that living in a rural area has on the diagnosis and treatment decisions of these people and how these may in turn impact on care outcomes. Objectives: This study explored the reasons why people living in rural areas may delay diagnosis and what issues affected the decisions they made regarding their cancer treatment. Methods: In depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 participants from 3 rural Western Australian health regions. Content analysis was used to develop themes.Results: Four themes were identified to describe the rural cancer experience. The first 3 themes, Experiences of Diagnosis and Referral, The Treatment Journey, and Managing your own Care, relate to the experiences of rural cancer patients during their journey through the health care system. The final overarching theme, Implicit Faith, described the level of confidence that rural cancer patients had in the health system, often despite delays and inconveniences. Conclusions: There is a need to improve primary health care and care coordination for rural cancer patients living in Australia and to promote self-advocacy and consumer empowerment for rural cancer patients. Implications for Practice: Rural patients need help and support throughout their cancer journey, including through the process of diagnosis. |
| first_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:56:48Z |
| format | Journal Article |
| id | curtin-20.500.11937-11868 |
| institution | Curtin University Malaysia |
| institution_category | Local University |
| last_indexed | 2025-11-14T06:56:48Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| publisher | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins |
| recordtype | eprints |
| repository_type | Digital Repository |
| spelling | curtin-20.500.11937-118682019-02-19T05:35:29Z The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia Mcconigley, Ruth Holloway, Kristi Smith, J. Halkett, Georgia Keyser, J. Aoun, Samar Monterosso, Leanne Background: People living in rural areas who have a diagnosis of cancer have poorer outcomes than people living in urban centers. The reasons for this are unclear. Little is known about the impact that living in a rural area has on the diagnosis and treatment decisions of these people and how these may in turn impact on care outcomes. Objectives: This study explored the reasons why people living in rural areas may delay diagnosis and what issues affected the decisions they made regarding their cancer treatment. Methods: In depth, semistructured interviews were conducted with 18 participants from 3 rural Western Australian health regions. Content analysis was used to develop themes.Results: Four themes were identified to describe the rural cancer experience. The first 3 themes, Experiences of Diagnosis and Referral, The Treatment Journey, and Managing your own Care, relate to the experiences of rural cancer patients during their journey through the health care system. The final overarching theme, Implicit Faith, described the level of confidence that rural cancer patients had in the health system, often despite delays and inconveniences. Conclusions: There is a need to improve primary health care and care coordination for rural cancer patients living in Australia and to promote self-advocacy and consumer empowerment for rural cancer patients. Implications for Practice: Rural patients need help and support throughout their cancer journey, including through the process of diagnosis. 2010 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11868 10.1097/NCC.0b013e3181f795e7 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins fulltext |
| spellingShingle | Mcconigley, Ruth Holloway, Kristi Smith, J. Halkett, Georgia Keyser, J. Aoun, Samar Monterosso, Leanne The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia |
| title | The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia |
| title_full | The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia |
| title_fullStr | The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia |
| title_short | The Diagnosis and Treatment Decisions of Cancer Patients in Rural Western Australia |
| title_sort | diagnosis and treatment decisions of cancer patients in rural western australia |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/11868 |