Exploring Positive Survivorship Experiences of Indigenous Australian Cancer Patients

Laura Tam, Gail Garvey, Judith Meiklejohn, Jennifer Martin, Jon Adams, Euan Walpole, Michael Fay and Patricia Valery
Additional contact information
Laura Tam: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
Gail Garvey: Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0811, Australia
Judith Meiklejohn: QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia
Jennifer Martin: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia
Jon Adams: Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
Euan Walpole: Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
Michael Fay: School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia
Patricia Valery: School of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Herston, QLD 4006, Australia

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 1, 1-12

Abstract: Amongst Indigenous Australians, “cancer” has negative connotations that detrimentally impact upon access to cancer care services. Barriers to accessing cancer services amongst Indigenous Australians are widely reported. In contrast, factors that facilitate this cohort to successfully navigate cancer care services (“enablers”) are scarcely reported in the literature. Through qualitative interviews, this article examines factors that assist Indigenous Australians to have positive cancer experiences. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve adult Indigenous oncology patients recruited from a tertiary hospital in Queensland, Australia during 2012–2014. Data generated from the interviews were independently reviewed by two researchers via inductive thematic analytical processes. Discussions followed by consensus on the major categories allowed conclusions to be drawn on potential enablers. Two major categories of enablers were identified by the researchers: resilience and communication. Individual’s intrinsic strength, their coping strategies, and receipt of support improved participant’s resilience and consequently supported a positive experience. Communication methods and an effective patient-provider relationship facilitated positive experiences for participants. Despite potential barriers to access of care for Indigenous cancer patients, participants in the study demonstrated that it was still possible to focus on the positive aspects of their cancer experiences. Many participants explained how cancer changed their outlook on life, often for the better, with many feeling empowered as they progressed through their cancer diagnosis and treatment processes.

Keywords: Indigenous Australians; survivorship; cancer; qualitative design (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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