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The experience of lung cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and what it means for policy, service planning and delivery.
- Source :
- Australian Health Review; 2013, Vol. 37 Issue 1, p70-78, 9p
- Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- Background. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples experience inferior outcomes following diagnosis of lung cancer. Aim. To examine the experience of lung cancer in this population and identify reasons for poorer outcomes and lower levels of treatment compared with non-Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and opportunities for early intervention. Method. Literature was sought via electronic database searches and journal hand-searching for the period from January 1995 to July 2010. Databases used included Indigenous Health Info Net, SCOPUS, PsycInfo, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), Medline, Health Insite and Google Scholar. Findings. Exposure to risk factors, cultural and spiritual values, remoteness and geographic characteristics, entrenched socioeconomic inequalities and racism contribute to reduced service access and poor outcomes. The review highlighted a complex interplay of individual, social, health system and environmental factors that impact on optimal lung cancer care and lung cancer outcomes. Considering the burden of lung cancer within a framework of social determinants of health is necessary for policy-making and service planning and delivery. Conclusions. It is imperative that the disproportionate burden of lung cancer in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples is addressed immediately. Whilst strategic interventions in lung cancer prevention and care are needed, service providers and policy makers must acknowledge the entrenched inequality that exists and consider the broad range of factors at the patient, provider and system level. Primary care strategies and health promotion activities to reduce risk factors, such as smoking, must also be implemented, with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' engagement and control at the core of any strategy. This review has indicated that multifaceted interventions, supported by enabling policies that target individuals, communities and health professionals, are necessary to improve lung cancer outcomes and disparities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- INDIGENOUS Australians
CINAHL database
HEALTH attitudes
PSYCHOLOGY information storage & retrieval systems
LUNG tumors
MEDICAL care
HEALTH policy
MEDLINE
HEALTH outcome assessment
RESEARCH funding
SMOKING
SYSTEMATIC reviews
SOCIOECONOMIC factors
CULTURAL competence
TREATMENT effectiveness
EVALUATION
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 01565788
- Volume :
- 37
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Complementary Index
- Journal :
- Australian Health Review
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 86458427
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1071/AH10955