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Experiences of regional and rural people with cancer being treated with radiotherapy in a metropolitan centre
Author(s) -
MartinMcDonald Kristine,
RogersClark Cath,
Hegney Desley,
McCarthy Alexandra,
Pearce Susanne
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
international journal of nursing practice
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.62
H-Index - 55
eISSN - 1440-172X
pISSN - 1322-7114
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-172x.2003.00421.x
Subject(s) - metropolitan area , accommodation , equity (law) , radiation therapy , rural area , socioeconomic status , medicine , economic growth , political science , psychology , environmental health , surgery , economics , population , pathology , neuroscience , law
This paper explores the issues related to rural people with cancer whose choice of radiotherapy treatment necessitated travel and accommodation in a metropolitan centre. Semi‐structured interviews with 46 participants, from the Toowoomba and Darling Downs region of Queensland, Australia, were conducted and the data thematically analysed. The specific themes identified were: being away from loved ones, maintaining responsibilities whilst undergoing treatment, emotional stress, burden on significant others, choice about radiotherapy as a treatment, travel and accommodation, and financial burden. This study supports the need for a radiotherapy centre in the location of Toowoomba as a way of providing some equity and access to such treatment for the rural people of Queensland.