A qualitative exploration of the non-financial costs of cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Cummins, R; Preston, R; Topp, SM; Taylor, J; Larkins, S; Callander, E; Bell, L; Arley, B; Garvey, G

A qualitative exploration of the non-financial costs of cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.

Cummins, R Preston, R Topp, SM Taylor, J Larkins, S Callander, E

Bell, L Arley, B Garvey, G

Permalink

Publisher:: Elsevier
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Aust N Z J Public Health, 2023, 47, (5), pp. 100085
Issue Date:: 2023-09-07

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (216.54 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Cummins, R
dc.contributor.author	Preston, R
dc.contributor.author	Topp, SM
dc.contributor.author	Taylor, J
dc.contributor.author	Larkins, S
dc.contributor.author	Callander, E https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7233-6804
dc.contributor.author	Bell, L
dc.contributor.author	Arley, B
dc.contributor.author	Garvey, G
dc.date.accessioned	2023-09-25T05:22:48Z
dc.date.available	2023-08-05
dc.date.available	2023-09-25T05:22:48Z
dc.date.issued	2023-09-07
dc.identifier.citation	Aust N Z J Public Health, 2023, 47, (5), pp. 100085
dc.identifier.issn	1326-0200
dc.identifier.issn	1753-6405
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172284
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE: Knowledge is growing about cancer care and financial costs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. However, much remains unknown about the true costs of cancer care, encompassing financial, emotional, and spiritual aspects. We aimed to explore and explain how non-financial costs affect the health-seeking behaviours of these clients. METHODS: Following Indigenous research protocols, this research was led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and guided by Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officers. In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with 29 participants (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer clients, their carers, and cancer-care professionals) at two Queensland public hospitals. RESULTS: Four interwoven themes encompass non-financial costs of healthcare: leaving home and family; loss of control during cancer treatment; health of the spirit; social costs. The Aboriginal relational concept of 'being held' is useful in considering client, family, and carer as central to care with the Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer two-way interpreting between the care and client team. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Framing the reasons that clients and carers have difficulty in engaging in treatment as 'costs' enables a focus on how the health system itself is implicated in the disengagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients from treatment.
dc.format	Print-Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier
dc.relation.ispartof	Aust N Z J Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.anzjph.2023.100085
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject	1117 Public Health and Health Services, 1402 Applied Economics, 1605 Policy and Administration
dc.subject.classification	Public Health
dc.subject.classification	4202 Epidemiology
dc.subject.classification	4203 Health services and systems
dc.subject.classification	4206 Public health
dc.title	A qualitative exploration of the non-financial costs of cancer care for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	47
utslib.location.activity	United States
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services
utslib.for	1402 Applied Economics
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-09-25T05:22:47Z
pubs.issue	5
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	47
utslib.citation.issue	5

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Knowledge is growing about cancer care and financial costs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. However, much remains unknown about the true costs of cancer care, encompassing financial, emotional, and spiritual aspects. We aimed to explore and explain how non-financial costs affect the health-seeking behaviours of these clients. METHODS: Following Indigenous research protocols, this research was led by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander researchers and guided by Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officers. In-depth interviews and focus groups were conducted with 29 participants (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer clients, their carers, and cancer-care professionals) at two Queensland public hospitals. RESULTS: Four interwoven themes encompass non-financial costs of healthcare: leaving home and family; loss of control during cancer treatment; health of the spirit; social costs. The Aboriginal relational concept of 'being held' is useful in considering client, family, and carer as central to care with the Indigenous Hospital Liaison Officer two-way interpreting between the care and client team. IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH: Framing the reasons that clients and carers have difficulty in engaging in treatment as 'costs' enables a focus on how the health system itself is implicated in the disengagement of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients from treatment.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/172284