ArticleSupportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer2020
Symptom burden among Northern Alberta radiotherapy patients with advanced cancer: mapping needs and gaps.
Article in Supportive care in cancer : official journal of the Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Defining and measuring unmet palliative care needs among people with life-limiting illness: A scoping review of international evidence.Palliative medicine · 2026Article
- Palliative care in rural, remote, and northern communities: a scoping review.BMC palliative care · 2026Article
- Update on Prevalence of Pain in Patients with Cancer 2022: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis.Cancers · 2023Review
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
7 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPatients with advanced cancer often experience symptoms including pain, nausea, anorexia, fatigue, and depression. High symptom burden can be alleviated by multidisciplinary palliative care (PC) teams practicing symptom-directed management. Patients who are unable to access such services may be at higher risk of increased symptoms and poor outcomes.
methodsA sequential exploratory mixed methods study was performed to explore the burden of symptoms experienced by Northern Alberta patients with advanced cancer. The symptom burden among patients from rural and remote communities was characterized in a retrospective review capturing basic demographic and clinicopathologic information, in addition to patient-reported outcomes. Symptom prevalence was evaluated against the nature and range of supportive care services available. Service accessibility was assessed at community level by surveying health care providers (HCPs) and performing thematic analysis on their responses.
resultsFrom January 1 to December 31, 2017, 607 outpatients were seen in consultation in an integrated palliative radiotherapy clinic in Edmonton, Alberta. A total of 166 (27.3%) patients resided in Alberta communities designated as rural or remote. Patient-reported symptom prevalence and intensity of scores did not differ significantly between rural/remote and urban populations. Unmet practical needs were flagged significantly more often by patients from rural communities (p = 0.05). HCPs from rural community health centers in Northern Alberta were knowledgeable regarding PC services availability and referral processes within their communities.
conclusionAlthough the symptom burden experienced by patients living with advanced cancer in rural and remote areas of Northern Alberta does not differ significantly from their urban counterparts, and community HCPs are knowledgeable regarding PC services, unmet needs within these communities remain. Continuing support for PC services in rural communities, as well as establishing care pathways for patients from rural populations traveling to urban centers to receive treatment, will help to minimize the unmet needs these patients experience.
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