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Australian Indigenous HealthBulletin
 

A comparative study of the patterns of care, comorbidities and quality of Indigenous and non-Indigenous people with cancer

 

Overview

Despite a similar incidence of cancers, Indigenous Australians have higher mortality rates and poorer survival compared to other Australians. The reasons for this are multi-faceted and may be due to later cancer stage at diagnosis, reduced uptake of or access to treatment, increased comorbidities, and higher rates of more aggressive cancers, however, little is known about these.

This study is a research project being conducted by the Menzies School of Health Research.The aim of the study is to investigate the patterns of care, quality of life, and comorbidities in Indigenous people with cancers and compare them with non-Indigenous cancer patients, and against clinical guidelines.

Primarily the study will identify factors that are modifiable (those related to health services). As part of this work the study will explore health care professionals' perspectives about Indigenous and non-Indigenous patients who commenced treatment to examine their clinical decision-making, particularly in the context of comorbidity, Indigeneity and geographical isolation from cancer care services; and those who did not commence treatment to examine their reasons for non-uptake or non-completion. The study will also explore the patients' perspective about their treatment: their experiences and understanding of cancer and treatment choices (including reasons for uptake of specific treatment option).

Abstract adapted from Menzies School of Health Research

Contacts

Menzies School of Health Research
National Indigenous Cancer Network
Email: Patricia.Valery@menzies.edu.au

Related publications

Mooi JK, Whop LJ, Valery PC, Sabesan SS (2012)

Teleoncology for Indigenous patients: the responses of patients and health workers.

Australian Journal of Rural Health; 20(5): 265-269

Whop LJ, Garvey G, Lokuge K, Mallitt KA, Valery PC (2012)

Cancer support services – are they appropriate and accessible for Indigenous cancer patients in Queensland, Australia?.

Rural and Remote Health; 12: 2018

Retrieved 7 August 2012 from http://www.rrh.org.au/publishedarticles/article_print_2018.pdf

Cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Queensland 1997– 2006: incidence and mortality (2011)

Moore S, O'Rourke P, Mallitt K, Garvey G, Green A, Coory M, Valery P

Moore SP, Green AC, Garvey G, Coory MD, Valery PC (2011)

A study of head and neck cancer treatment and survival among Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in Queensland, Australia, 1998 to 2004.

BMC Cancer; 11: 460

Retrieved 25 October 2011 from http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1471-2407-11-460

Moore SP, O’Rourke PK, Mallitt K-A, Garvey G, Green AC, Coory MD, Valery PC (2010)

Cancer incidence and mortality in Indigenous Australians in Queensland, 1997–2006.

Medical Journal of Australia; 193(10): 590-593

Links

 
Last updated: 15 April 2013
 
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