Original Research
Unmet supportive care needs among Indigenous cancer patients across Australia
AUTHORS
Christina M Bernardes1 PhD, Research Officer *
Abbey Diaz2 PhD, Senior Research Officer
Patricia C Valery3 PhD, Team Head, Cancer and Chronic Disease Research Group
Sabe Sabesan4 PhD, FRACP, Adjunct Professor
Siddhartha Baxi5 MBBS, GAICD, FRANZCR, Radiation Oncologist and Director
Samar Aoun6 PhD, Professor of Palliative Care
Sandra C Thompson7 PhD, Professor of Rural Health
Mari Lashbrook8 RN, RAN, PhD student
Gail Garvey9 PhD, Senior Principal Research Fellow
AFFILIATIONS
1 QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Cancer and Chronic Disease Research Group, Herston Road, Central Building, Level 4, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia
2, 9 Menzies School of Health Research, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Charles Darwin University, Level 10 East Tower, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia
3 QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Rd, Herston, Qld 4006; and Menzies School of Health Research, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Charles Darwin University, Level 10 East Tower, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia
4 Department of Medical Oncology, Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville Hospital and Health Services, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia
5 GenesisCare Gold Coast, John Flynn Hospital, 42 Inland Drive, Tugun, Qld 4224, Australia
6 Palliative Care Unit, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
7 Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, PO Box 109, Geraldton, WA 6531, Australia
8 Riverina Regional Cancer Care Centre, 31 Meurant Ave, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia
ACCEPTED: 12 June 2019
early abstract:
Background: Indigenous Australians with cancer tend to be diagnosed with more aggressive and advanced-stage disease, receive less treatment, have poorer survival, and lower quality of life than other Australians. Reducing these inequalities requires an understanding of the supportive care needs of this cancer group.
Aims: This study aims to describe the type and extent of unmet supportive care needs of Indigenous Australian cancer patients.
Methods: A multicentre cross-sectional study recruited 145 Indigenous adults diagnosed with cancer in the last 5 years in four Australian states and territories. Using a culturally specific tool, unmet needs were assessed in four domains:‘physical and psychological’; ‘hospital care’; ‘information and communication’ and ‘practical and cultural’. Moderate to high unmet need is that which requires some or a lot more help to be addressed.
Results: Two-thirds (65%) of patients reported at least one moderate to high unmet need and 20% of patients had moderate to high unmet needs with five or more items. Overall, patients most commonly reported moderate to high unmet needs in the physical/psychological (46%) and practical/cultural domains (34%), than the information/communication (23%) and hospital care domains (16%). More specifically, ‘money worries’ was the most frequently reported moderate to high unmet need (20%).
Conclusion: Most Indigenous Australians living with cancer experience unmet supportive care needs. Physical/psychological and practical/cultural concerns were identified as priority areas for Indigenous cancer patients. These findings may inform priority areas for intervention towards optimal care pathways for Indigenous Australians diagnosed and living with cancer.