Exploring patient experiences of cancer services in regional Australia.

Numerous previous studies have suggested that cancer care in rural and regional Australia is fragmented and that rural and regional patients have less access to services. However, knowledge concerning inequality of health and cancer care in regional and rural settings is still inconclusive. The social and economic disadvantages in regional locations are often linked to insufficient resources and infrastructures to support cancer care and treatment. The aim of this study was to explore cancer patients' experiences from the perspective of patients and healthcare providers in a regional area of Western Australia. It was found that patients who had the involvement of a cancer nurse coordinator and cancer support workers had better experiences and more streamlined care than did those who had to navigate the journey alone. This study endorses the function of cancer nurse coordinators and cancer support workers in providing better coordination of care in rural and regional cancer patients.