TY - JOUR
T1 - Not just bricks and mortar
T2 - Planning hospital cancer services for Aboriginal people
AU - Thompson, Sandra C.
AU - Shahid, Shaouli
AU - Bessarab, Dawn
AU - Durey, Angela
AU - Davidson, Patricia M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was originally supported by a grant from The Cancer Council of Western Australia. Shaouli Shahid was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Award and is currently supported by an NHMRC Capacity Building Grant Grant (ID 457279). We thank all of the participants for sharing their stories and experiences and the many health service providers that assisted the process. We acknowledge the contribution of Kim Worthington with this research the assistance provided by the Aboriginal Reference Group and other investigators and colleagues for their advice over the course of the research: Peter Howat, Brian Bishop, Timothy Threlfall, Katie Thomas, Terry Slevin, Leanne Pilkington, Francine Eades, Dot Henry, Gwen Rakabula, Annette Pepper, Pauline Gregory, Ann Flynn, Rosemary McGuckin.
PY - 2011
Y1 - 2011
N2 - Background: Aboriginal people in Australia experience higher mortality from cancer compared with non-Aboriginal Australians, despite an overall lower incidence. A notable contributor to this disparity is that many Aboriginal people do not take up or continue with cancer treatment which almost always occurs within major hospitals. Thirty in-depth interviews with urban, rural and remote Aboriginal people affected by cancer were conducted between March 2006 and September 2007. Interviews explored participants' beliefs about cancer and experiences of cancer care and were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded independently by two researchers. NVivo7 software was used to assist data management and analysis. Information from interviews relevant to hospital services including and building design was extracted. Findings. Relationships and respect emerged as crucial considerations of participants although many aspects of the hospital environment were seen as influencing the delivery of care. Five themes describing concerns about the hospital environment emerged: (i) being alone and lost in a big, alien and inflexible system; (ii) failure of open communication, delays and inefficiency in the system; (iii) practicalities: costs, transportation, community and family responsibilities; (iv) the need for Aboriginal support persons; and (v) connection to the community. Conclusions: Design considerations and were identified but more important than the building itself was the critical need to build trust in health services. Promotion of cultural safety, support for Aboriginal family structures and respecting the importance of place and community to Aboriginal patients are crucial in improving cancer outcomes.
AB - Background: Aboriginal people in Australia experience higher mortality from cancer compared with non-Aboriginal Australians, despite an overall lower incidence. A notable contributor to this disparity is that many Aboriginal people do not take up or continue with cancer treatment which almost always occurs within major hospitals. Thirty in-depth interviews with urban, rural and remote Aboriginal people affected by cancer were conducted between March 2006 and September 2007. Interviews explored participants' beliefs about cancer and experiences of cancer care and were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and coded independently by two researchers. NVivo7 software was used to assist data management and analysis. Information from interviews relevant to hospital services including and building design was extracted. Findings. Relationships and respect emerged as crucial considerations of participants although many aspects of the hospital environment were seen as influencing the delivery of care. Five themes describing concerns about the hospital environment emerged: (i) being alone and lost in a big, alien and inflexible system; (ii) failure of open communication, delays and inefficiency in the system; (iii) practicalities: costs, transportation, community and family responsibilities; (iv) the need for Aboriginal support persons; and (v) connection to the community. Conclusions: Design considerations and were identified but more important than the building itself was the critical need to build trust in health services. Promotion of cultural safety, support for Aboriginal family structures and respecting the importance of place and community to Aboriginal patients are crucial in improving cancer outcomes.
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U2 - 10.1186/1756-0500-4-62
DO - 10.1186/1756-0500-4-62
M3 - Article
C2 - 21401923
AN - SCOPUS:79952514953
SN - 1756-0500
VL - 4
JO - BMC Research Notes
JF - BMC Research Notes
M1 - 62
ER -