Distress and psychosocial support seeking: A comparison of rural and metropolitan oncology patient experiences

• Published in: The Australian journal of rural health Vol. 32; no. 1; pp. 29 - 41
• Main Authors: Martin, Mahala, Rice, Kylie, Murray, Clara V., Rock, Adam J., Usher, Kim J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Australia Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.02.2024
• Subjects: Access; barriers; Cancer; Content analysis; distress; Geographical locations; Health services utilization; Mental health care; Oncology; Patients; Professional attitudes; Psychological distress; psychosocial; Psychosocial factors; Psychosocial intervention; Psychosocial support; Psychosocial well being; rural; Rural areas; Rural communities; Rural health care; Social support; Statistical analysis; Stigma; Stress; support; Supporters; Uptake; Urban health care; distress; psychosocial; cancer; barriers; support; rural
• ISSN: 1038-5282; 1440-1584
• DOI: 10.1111/ajr.13058

Introduction Prevalence of distress in cancer patients is established at approximately 50%, yet uptake of psychosocial support is minimal. Objective This study aimed to understand why clinically distressed oncology patients choose not to access psychosocial support, including whether this differs by geographic location. It also aimed to determine the proportion of rural and metropolitan patients experiencing clinical levels of distress, and of these, the proportion who do not wish to access support. Design The study used a cross‐sectional design. Two hundred and ninety‐eight Australian cancer patients completed an online survey, including the Distress Thermometer and open‐ended questions about reasons for declining support. Descriptive statistics and content analysis were used to analyse the data. Findings More than half (56%) of participants reported experiencing clinically significant levels of distress. Of these, almost half (47%) declined psychosocial support. Content analysis of reasons for declining psychosocial support resulted in six main concepts: I don't need support; I'm using personal resources to cope; negative perceptions and attitudes; life doesn't stop for cancer; I'm focussed on fighting cancer; and systemic barriers. Rural cancer patients most often indicated using personal resources to cope, while metropolitan participants most commonly indicated not needing support. A range of subconcepts were also identified. Perceiving distress as manageable or transient was almost exclusively reported by metropolitan participants, while stigma was almost exclusively reported by rural participants. Discussion The findings provided greater depth of insight into reasons cancer patients decline psychosocial support and identified several qualitative differences in the reasons provided by metropolitan and rural patients. Recommendations are provided for clinicians, in particular for clinicians who work with rural cancer patients and their supporters. Conclusion These findings can inform equitable resourcing of psychosocial support in rural areas and the adaptation of psychosocial interventions to be more flexible and responsive to individual needs. This may help increase patient uptake of support, particularly in rural areas.