Journal article
Rural comprehensive cancer care: Qualitative analysis of current challenges and opportunities
The Journal of rural health, Vol.40(4), pp.634-644
09/18/2024
DOI: 10.1111/jrh.12842
PMCID: PMC11502280
PMID: 38753418
Appears in UI Libraries Support Open Access
Abstract
PURPOSE While limited resources can make high-quality, comprehensive, coordinated cancer care provision challenging in rural settings, rural cancer patients often rely on local hospitals for care. To develop resources and strategies to support high-quality local cancer care, it is critical to understand the current experiences of rural cancer care physicians, including perceived strengths and challenges of providing cancer care in rural areas. METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 cancer providers associated with all 12 non-metropolitan/rural Iowa hospitals that diagnose or treat >100 cancer patients annually. Iterative thematic analysis was conducted to develop domains. FINDINGS Participants identified geographic proximity and sense of community as strengths of local care. They described decision-making processes and challenges related to referring patients to larger centers for complex procedures, including a lack of dedicated navigators to facilitate and track transfers between institutions and occasional lack of respect from academic physicians. Participants reported a desire for strengthening collaborations with larger urban/academic cancer centers, including access to educational opportunities, shared resources and strategies to collect and monitor data on quality, and clinical trials. CONCLUSIONS Rural cancer care providers are dedicated to providing high-quality care close to home for their patients and would welcome opportunities to increase collaboration with larger centers to improve coordination and comprehensiveness of care, collect and monitor data on quality of care, and access continuing education opportunities. Further research is needed to develop implementation approaches that will extend resources, services, and expertise to rural providers to facilitate high-quality cancer care for all cancer patients.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Rural comprehensive cancer care: Qualitative analysis of current challenges and opportunities
- Creators
- Sydney Evans - University of IowaAaron T Seaman - University of IowaErin C Johnson - University of IowaJacklyn M Engelbart - University of IowaXiang Gao - University of IowaPraveen Vikas - University of IowaSneha Phadke - University of IowaMary C Schroeder - University of IowaIngrid M Lizarraga - University of IowaMary E Charlton - University of Iowa
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Journal of rural health, Vol.40(4), pp.634-644
- DOI
- 10.1111/jrh.12842
- PMID
- 38753418
- PMCID
- PMC11502280
- eISSN
- 1748-0361
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Language
- English
- Electronic publication date
- 05/16/2024
- Date published
- 09/18/2024
- Academic Unit
- Management and Entrepreneurship ; Hematology, Oncology, and Blood & Marrow Transplantation; Epidemiology; Surgery; Pharmacy Practice and Science; Center for Social Science Innovation; General Internal Medicine; Interdisciplinary Programs; Community and Behavioral Health; Internal Medicine
- Record Identifier
- 9984627152702771
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