Access to medical and supportive care for rural and remote cancer survivors in northern British Columbia.
BACKGROUND
Rural cancer survivors (RCS) potentially have unique medical and supportive care experiences when they return to their communities posttreatment because of the availability and accessibility of health services. However, there is a limited understanding of cancer survivorship in rural communities.


OBJECTIVE
The purpose of this study is to describe RCS experiences accessing medical and supportive care postcancer treatment.


METHODS
Interviews and focus groups were conducted with 52 RCS residing in northern British Columbia, Canada. The data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis methods.


RESULTS
General Population RCS and First Nations RCS experienced challenges accessing timely medical care close to home, resulting in unmet medical needs. Emotional support services were rarely available, and, if they did exist, were difficult to access or not tailored to cancer survivors. Travel and distance were barriers to medical and psychological support and services, not only in terms of the cost of travel, but also the toll this took on family members. Many of the RCS lacked access to trusted and useful information. Financial assistance, for follow-up care and rehabilitation services, was rarely available, as was appropriate employment assistance.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical and supportive care can be inaccessible, unavailable, and unaffordable for cancer survivors living in rural northern communities.
School of Population and Public Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada.
A
A
Fuchsia Howard
Kirsten
K
Smillie
Kristin
K
Turnbull
Chelan
C
Zirul
Dana
D
Munroe
Amanda
A
Ward
Pam
P
Tobin
Arminee
A
Kazanjian
Rob
R
Olson
D001955:British Columbia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D017741:Survivors
access to care; cancer; geography; qualitative research; rural health