Rural Cancer Survivors' Perceived Delays in Seeking Medical Attention, Diagnosis and Treatment: Findings From a Large Qualitative Study.

ABSTRACT:

Aims

To investigate rural cancer survivors' self-reported reasons for perceived delays in initial cancer detection and treatment.

Methods

Within a cohort study, adult cancer survivors who had travelled > 50 km for cancer care, staying at subsidised accommodation lodges in city centres in Queensland, Australia, were invited to complete a structured interview on perceived delays in: (i) seeking medical attention, (ii) receiving their diagnosis and (iii) commencing treatment. Content analysis was used to map self-reported reasons for perceived delays at each step, which were then categorised based on the perceived source: (i) personal, (ii) healthcare professional, (iii) healthcare system or (iv) other. The self-reported reasons and perceived sources were summarised using descr

SUBMITTER: Taglieri-Sclocchi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12278023 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature