scholarly journals Equity-Oriented Healthcare: What It Is and Why We Need It in Oncology

2022 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 186-192
Author(s):  
Tara C. Horrill ◽  
Annette J. Browne ◽  
Kelli I. Stajduhar
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Access To Care ◽  
Health Equity ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Socially Disadvantaged ◽  
Cancer Services ◽  
Social Inequities ◽  
Cancer Trajectory ◽  
Taking Action ◽  
Related Mortality

Alarming differences exist in cancer outcomes for people most impacted by persistent and widening health and social inequities. People who are socially disadvantaged often have higher cancer-related mortality and are diagnosed with advanced cancers more often than other people. Such outcomes are linked to the compounding effects of stigma, discrimination, and other barriers, which create persistent inequities in access to care at all points in the cancer trajectory, preventing timely diagnosis and treatment, and further widening the health equity gap. In this commentary, we discuss how growing evidence suggests that people who are considered marginalized are not well-served by the cancer care sector and how the design and structure of services can often impose profound barriers to populations considered socially disadvantaged. We highlight equity-oriented healthcare as one strategy that can begin to address inequities in health outcomes and access to care by taking action to transform organizational cultures and approaches to the design and delivery of cancer services.

scholarly journals “The support has been brilliant”: experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients attending two high performing cancer services

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma V. Taylor ◽  
Marilyn Lyford ◽  
Michele Holloway ◽  
Lorraine Parsons ◽  
Toni Mason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Indigenous People ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Family Members ◽  
Hospital Staff ◽  
Cultural Safety ◽  
National Study ◽  
High Performing ◽  
Cancer Services

Abstract Background Improving health outcomes for Indigenous people by providing person-centred, culturally safe care is a crucial challenge for the health sector, both in Australia and internationally. Many cancer providers and support services are committed to providing high quality care, yet struggle with providing accessible, culturally safe cancer care to Indigenous Australians. Two Australian cancer services, one urban and one regional, were identified as particularly focused on providing culturally safe cancer care for Indigenous cancer patients and their families. The article explores the experiences of Indigenous cancer patients and their families within the cancer services and ascertains how their experiences of care matches with the cancer services’ strategies to improve care. Methods Services were identified as part of a national study designed to identify and assess innovative services for Indigenous cancer patients and their families. Case studies were conducted with a small number of identified services. In-depth interviews were conducted with Indigenous people affected by cancer and hospital staff. The interviews from two services, which stood out as particularly high performing, were analysed through the lens of the patient experience. Results Eight Indigenous people affected by cancer and 23 hospital staff (Indigenous and non-Indigenous) were interviewed. Three experiences were shared by the majority of Indigenous cancer patients and family members interviewed in this study: a positive experience while receiving treatment at the cancer service; a challenging time between receiving diagnosis and reaching the cancer centre; and the importance of family support, while acknowledging the burden on family and carers. Conclusions This article is significant because it demonstrates that with a culturally appropriate and person-centred approach, involving patients, family members, Indigenous and non-Indigenous staff, it is possible for Indigenous people to have positive experiences of cancer care in mainstream, tertiary health services. If we are to improve health outcomes for Indigenous people it is vital more cancer services and hospitals follow the lead of these two services and make a sustained and ongoing commitment to strengthening the cultural safety of their service.

scholarly journals Transforming Community Cancer Care: The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation’s Cancer Coaching Practice

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda Eagen ◽  
Johanne Levesque
Keyword(s):  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Community Services ◽  
Annual Number ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Cancer Statistics ◽  
Landscape Services ◽  
Cancer Services ◽  
Per Capita

Community services are an increasingly important part of the healthcare landscape. Services that work to empower patients and their caregivers are having a positive impact on health outcomes and helping to reduce per capita costs of healthcare. According to the 2015 Canadian Cancer Statistics Report, by 2030 the annual number of new cancer cases in Canada is expected to increase by 79% [1]. Community-based cancer services, in particular, are urgently required to meet the growing demand for care as the complexity of the disease and its treatment continues to grow. RÉSUMÉ Les services communautaires jouent un rôle de plus en plus important dans les soins de santé. Les services qui veillent à habiliter les patients et leurs proches aidants ont un effet positif sur les résultats en matière de santé et aident à réduire les coûts par personne des soins de santé. D’ici 2030, le nombre annuel de nouveaux cas de cancer au Canada devrait augmenter de 79 % selon le rapport Statistiques canadiennes sur le cancer 2015 [1]. Des services communautaires pour le traitement du cancer, notamment, sont requis de toute urgence afin de répondre à la demande croissante de soins, alors que la complexité de la maladie et de son traitement ne cesse de croître. 

Delay in head and neck cancer care during the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on health outcomes

2020 ◽  
Vol 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudiane MAHL ◽  
Luís Ricardo Santos de MELO ◽  
Maria Helena Andrade ALMEIDA ◽  
Catarina Sampaio CARVALHO ◽  
Lois Lene Silva SANTOS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Cancer Care

Telemedicine in Cancer Care

2018 ◽  
pp. 540-545 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Joseph Sirintrapun ◽  
Ana Maria Lopez
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Access To Care ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Symptom Management ◽  
Lifestyle Modification ◽  
Clinical Settings ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Home Based Care ◽  
Care Costs ◽  
Improve Access

Telemedicine uses telecommunications technology as a tool to deliver health care to populations with limited access to care. Telemedicine has been tested in multiple clinical settings, demonstrating at least equivalency to in-person care and high levels of patient and health professional satisfaction. Teleoncology has been demonstrated to improve access to care and decrease health care costs. Teleconsultations may take place in a synchronous, asynchronous, or blended format. Examples of successful teleoncology applications include cancer telegenetics, bundling of cancer-related teleapplications, remote chemotherapy supervision, symptom management, survivorship care, palliative care, and approaches to increase access to cancer clinical trials. Telepathology is critical to cancer care and may be accomplished synchronously and asynchronously for both cytology and tissue diagnoses. Mobile applications support symptom management, lifestyle modification, and medication adherence as a tool for home-based care. Telemedicine can support the oncologist with access to interactive tele-education. Teleoncology practice should maintain in-person professional standards, including documentation integrated into the patient’s electronic health record. Telemedicine training is essential to facilitate rapport, maximize engagement, and conduct an accurate virtual exam. With the appropriate attachments, the only limitation to the virtual exam is palpation. The national telehealth resource centers can provide interested clinicians with the latest information on telemedicine reimbursement, parity, and practice. To experience the gains of teleoncology, appropriate training, education, as well as paying close attention to gaps, such as those inherent in the digital divide, are essential.

Gaining and Losing Health Insurance: Strengthening the Evidence for Effects on Access to Care and Health Outcomes

2000 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 298-318 ◽  
Author(s):  
Judith D. Kasper ◽  
Terence A. Giovannini ◽  
Catherine Hoffman
Keyword(s):  
Health Insurance ◽  
Health Outcomes ◽  
Access To Care

scholarly journals Triaging and adaptations of surveillance of cancer services in the COVID pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-3
Author(s):  
Shirley Lewis ◽  
Lavanya Gurram ◽  
Umesh Velu ◽  
Krishna Sharan
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Clinical Examination ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Cancer Services ◽  
Low Middle Income Countries

Abstract Introduction: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has significantly challenged the access to cancer care and follow-up for a patient with cancer. Methods: Based on published literature and our experiences, it is reasonable to presume that clinical examination and follow-up visits have been significantly curtailed worldwide in order to adhere to the new norms during the pandemic. Although telephonic and telemedicine consultations may help bridge a few gaps, completely dispensing with in-person consultation has its challenges, especially in low middle-income countries. Telephonic consultations could facilitate triaging of ambulatory cancer patients and allocation of face-to-face consultations for high priority patients. Conclusions: We propose a telephonic consultation-based triaging approach for ambulatory cancer patients in order to identify those needing in-hospital consultations.

scholarly journals Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the oncologic care continuum: urgent need to restore patients care to pre-COVID-19 era

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Ernest Osei ◽  
Ruth Francis ◽  
Ayan Mohamed ◽  
Lyba Sheraz ◽  
Fariba Soltani-Mayvan
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Care ◽  
Healthcare Professionals ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
System Level ◽  
Care Continuum ◽  
Cancer Services ◽  
Number Of Patients ◽  
Prevention Programmes ◽  
Screening And Prevention ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background: Globally, cancer is the second leading cause of death, and it is estimated that over 18·1 million new cases are diagnosed annually. The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted almost every aspect of the provision and management of cancer care worldwide. The time-critical nature of COVID-19 diagnosis and the large number of patients requiring hospitalisation necessitated the rerouting of already limited resources available for cancer services and programmes to the care of COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, the stringent social distancing, restricted in-hospital visits and lockdown measures instituted by various governments resulted in the disruption of the oncologic continuum including screening, diagnostic and prevention programmes, treatments and follow-up services as well as research and clinical trial programmes. Materials and Methods: We searched several databases from October 2020 to January 2021 for relevant studies published in English between 2020 and 2021 and reporting on the impact of COVID-19 on the cancer care continuum. This narrative review paper describes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the cancer patient care continuum from screening and prevention to treatments and ongoing management of patients. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly impacted cancer care and the management of cancer services and patients. Nevertheless, the oncology healthcare communities worldwide have done phenomenal work with joint and collaborative efforts, utilising best available evidence-based guidelines to continue to give safe and effective treatments for cancer patients while maintaining the safety of patients, healthcare professionals and the general population. Nevertheless, several healthcare centres are now faced with significant challenges with the management of the backlog of screening, diagnosis and treatment cases. It is imperative that governments, leaders of healthcare centres and healthcare professionals take all necessary actions and policies focused on minimising further system-level delays to cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment initiation and clearing of all backlogs cases from the COVID-19 pandemic in order to mitigate the negative impact on cancer outcomes.

scholarly journals Cancer services in Sri Lanka: current status and future directions

2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Umesh Jayarajah ◽  
Anuruddha M. Abeygunasekera
Keyword(s):  
Sri Lanka ◽  
Cancer Prevention ◽  
Systemic Therapy ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Prevention Measures ◽  
High Quality Research ◽  
Screening Programs ◽  
Cancer Services

Abstract Background The burden of cancer in Sri Lanka is on the rise. The overall incidence of cancer in Sri Lanka has doubled over the past 25 years with a parallel rise in cancer-related mortality. Cancer has become the second commonest cause of hospital mortality in Sri Lanka. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of the current status and future direction of cancer care in Sri Lanka. Main body In Sri Lanka, cancer services are predominantly provided by the state sector free of charge to the general public. With the establishment of national cancer policy on cancer prevention and control, there has been a commendable improvement in the cancer services provided island-wide. An increasing number of breast, oropharyngeal, thyroid, oesophageal, colorectal, lung, and gastric cancers are being diagnosed and treated annually. Primary prevention measures include restrictions in tobacco and HPV vaccination. Screening programs for selected cancers such as breast, oral and cervical cancers are delivered. Medical oncology units with facilities for systemic therapy and adequately supported by surgical, pathology, and radiology departments have been established in each district general hospital island-wide. Although the current progress is commendable, future changes are necessary to overcome the current limitations and to cater the ever increasing burden of cancer. Measures are necessary to enhance the coverage of Sri Lanka Cancer Registry. Timely high-quality research and audits are essential. Community participation in planning strategies for cancer prevention and treatment is minimal. Community-based palliative care facilities and radiation and other systemic therapy should be made available in all provinces. A culture of multi-disciplinary care with proper referral pathways would help to improve the current setting. Conclusion In conclusion, Sri Lanka has a reasonably balanced and continuously expanding program for prevention, screening, and treatment of cancers. Emphasis on preventive strategies related to reducing tobacco smoking, chewing betel, and obesity, making cancers a notifiable disease, involving the community in planning cancer care and prevention strategies, conducting research to evaluate cost-effectiveness of existing treatment and increasing radiotherapy facilities would further improve the cancer services in Sri Lanka.

scholarly journals The Australian Youth Cancer Service: Developing and Monitoring the Activity of Nationally Coordinated Adolescent and Young Adult Cancer Care

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 2675
Author(s):  
Pandora Patterson ◽  
Kimberley R. Allison ◽  
Helen Bibby ◽  
Kate Thompson ◽  
Jeremy Lewin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trial ◽  
Young Adults ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Young Patients ◽  
Adolescents And Young Adults ◽  
Adolescent And Young Adult ◽  
Trial Participation ◽  
Clinical Trial Participation ◽  
Activity Data ◽  
Cancer Services

Adolescents and young adults (aged 15–25 years) diagnosed with cancer have unique medical and psychosocial experiences and care needs, distinct from those of paediatric and older adult patients. Since 2011, the Australian Youth Cancer Services have provided developmentally appropriate, multidisciplinary and comprehensive care to these young patients, facilitated by national service coordination and activity data collection and monitoring. This paper reports on how the Youth Cancer Services have conceptualised and delivered quality youth cancer care in four priority areas: clinical trial participation, oncofertility, psychosocial care and survivorship. National activity data collected by the Youth Cancer Services between 2016–17 and 2019–20 are used to illustrate how service monitoring processes have facilitated improvements in coordination and accountability across multiple indicators of quality youth cancer care, including clinical trial participation, access to fertility information and preservation, psychosocial screening and care and the transition from active treatment to survivorship. Accounts of both service delivery and monitoring and evaluation processes within the Australian Youth Cancer Services provide an exemplar of how coordinated initiatives may be employed to deliver, monitor and improve quality cancer care for adolescents and young adults.

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