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Difficulties in Accessing Cancer Care in a Small Island State: A Community-Based Pilot Study of Cancer Survivors in Saint Lucia
- Source :
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18, Iss 4770, p 4770 (2021), Volume 18, Issue 9
- Publication Year :
- 2021
- Publisher :
- MDPI, 2021.
-
Abstract
- Developing robust systems for cancer care delivery is essential to reduce the high cancer mortality in small island developing states (SIDS). Indigenous data are scarce, but community-based cancer research can inform care in SIDS where formal research capacity is lacking, and we describe the experiences of cancer survivors in Saint Lucia in accessing health services. Purposive and snowball sampling was used to constitute a sample of survivors for interviews. Subjects were interviewed with a questionnaire regarding socio-demographics, clinical characteristics, health services accessed (physicians, tests, treatment), and personal appraisal of experience. We recruited 50 survivors (13 men, 37 women). Only 52% of first presentations were with general practitioners. The mean turnaround for biopsy results in Saint Lucia was three times longer than overseas (p = 0.0013). Approximately half of survivors commenced treatment more than one month following diagnosis (median of 32 days, IQR 19–86 days), and 56% of survivors traveled out-of-country for treatment. Most survivors (60%) paid for care with family/friends support, followed by savings and medical insurance (38% each). In conclusion, cancer survivors in Saint Lucia are faced with complex circumstances, including access-to-care and health consequences. This study can guide future research, and possibly guide practice improvements in the near term.
- Subjects :
- health care delivery
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis
Medical tourism
Pilot Projects
Indigenous
Article
03 medical and health sciences
0302 clinical medicine
Cancer Survivors
Neoplasms
medicine
cancer
Humans
030212 general & internal medicine
Saint Lucia
health disparities
community health
Caribbean
Islands
business.industry
Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
medical tourism
Cancer
medicine.disease
Health equity
Snowball sampling
care pathways
030220 oncology & carcinogenesis
Family medicine
Community health
Medicine
Female
Small Island Developing States
low-and-middle income country
business
small island developing state
Delivery of Health Care
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 16604601 and 16617827
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 9
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....86ad2eb0ff6cfdb64b46557be887a9ca