Abstract
Objectives
Disparities in cancer outcomes between rural and urban dwellers are well-established. Studies report poorer survival after a cancer diagnosis among rural individuals compared with their urban counterparts. Due to ongoing symptoms and treatment side-effects, individuals with cancer make increased use of emergency and out-of-hours (OOH) medical services. The aim of this study was to compare the use of OOH and unscheduled medical services between urban and rural cancer patients. We also aimed to explore beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours relating to OOH services and investigate whether these differed between urban and rural dwellers.
Method
A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in Northeast Scotland. The questionnaire was sent to all individuals diagnosed with cancer within NHS Grampian within the preceding 12 months (identified through the NHS Grampian Cancer Pathway Clinical Database). The questionnaire was designed with input from health psychologists on theoretical models and collected quantitative and qualitative data. The questionnaire asked about the distance to and use of medical services, and patients’ capability, opportunity, and motivation for accessing OOH services. Ordinal (proportional odds logistic) regression compared urban and rural Likert item responses relating to attitudes about OOH. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis.
Results
490 individuals (19.2%) returned the questionnaire. There were no significant differences in OOH service use between urban/rural respondents. Rural respondents were more likely to disagree that OOH services were close by (Adj. OR 3.32, 95% CI 2.19-5.07, pConclusions
This study collected rich data about patterns and behavioural determinants of OOH service use among cancer patients in Grampian, Scotland. While rural patients reported they had to travel longer distances to services, we did not find systematic differences between urban and rural dwellers in the self-reported contact with OOH services, or in the behavioural determinants of service use (i.e., participants’ capability, opportunity, motivation, self-efficacy, and knowledge about services). Both rural and urban participants reported the same barriers to accessing OOH services, which will be discussed in detail in this presentation.
Disparities in cancer outcomes between rural and urban dwellers are well-established. Studies report poorer survival after a cancer diagnosis among rural individuals compared with their urban counterparts. Due to ongoing symptoms and treatment side-effects, individuals with cancer make increased use of emergency and out-of-hours (OOH) medical services. The aim of this study was to compare the use of OOH and unscheduled medical services between urban and rural cancer patients. We also aimed to explore beliefs, attitudes, and behaviours relating to OOH services and investigate whether these differed between urban and rural dwellers.
Method
A cross-sectional questionnaire study was conducted in Northeast Scotland. The questionnaire was sent to all individuals diagnosed with cancer within NHS Grampian within the preceding 12 months (identified through the NHS Grampian Cancer Pathway Clinical Database). The questionnaire was designed with input from health psychologists on theoretical models and collected quantitative and qualitative data. The questionnaire asked about the distance to and use of medical services, and patients’ capability, opportunity, and motivation for accessing OOH services. Ordinal (proportional odds logistic) regression compared urban and rural Likert item responses relating to attitudes about OOH. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis.
Results
490 individuals (19.2%) returned the questionnaire. There were no significant differences in OOH service use between urban/rural respondents. Rural respondents were more likely to disagree that OOH services were close by (Adj. OR 3.32, 95% CI 2.19-5.07, pConclusions
This study collected rich data about patterns and behavioural determinants of OOH service use among cancer patients in Grampian, Scotland. While rural patients reported they had to travel longer distances to services, we did not find systematic differences between urban and rural dwellers in the self-reported contact with OOH services, or in the behavioural determinants of service use (i.e., participants’ capability, opportunity, motivation, self-efficacy, and knowledge about services). Both rural and urban participants reported the same barriers to accessing OOH services, which will be discussed in detail in this presentation.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Unpublished - 23 Mar 2023 |
| Event | Cancer in Primary Care International Network (CaPRI) Conference 2023: Tailoring our approach to cancer control in primary care - Worcester College, Oxford, United Kingdom Duration: 22 Mar 2023 → 24 Mar 2023 |
Conference
| Conference | Cancer in Primary Care International Network (CaPRI) Conference 2023 |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | United Kingdom |
| City | Oxford |
| Period | 22/03/23 → 24/03/23 |
