Poster Presentation Clinical Oncology Society of Australia Annual Scientific Meeting 2023

Implementing the Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer: a cross-sectional survey of health professionals practicing in Victoria, Australia (#294)

Dilu Rupassara 1 , Sian Wright 2 , Annie Williams 2 , Angela Mellerick 1 , Sandra Picken 1 , Kath Quade 1 , Michael Leach 3 , Eli Ristevski 4
  1. Western and Central Melbourne Integrated Cancer Services, East Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Hume Regional Integrated Cancer Service, Shepparton, VIC, Australia
  3. School of Rural Health, Monash University, Bendigo, VIC, Australia
  4. School of Rural Health, Monash University, Warragul, VIC, Australia

Aim

To explore variation in health professionals’ knowledge, skills, professional/demographic background, and confidence in relation to implementing the Optimal Care Pathway (OCP) for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer in Victoria, Australia.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was developed based on Cancer Australia’s OCP Implementation Guide  

and distributed via convenience sampling to health professionals practicing in Victoria. The survey assessed self-perceived knowledge, skills, professional/demographic background, and confidence in meeting clinical requirements of the OCP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. Descriptive statistics were computed. Pearson’s chi-squared test was used to assess whether associations were significant (p-values<0.05).

Results

Overall, 114 health professionals responded: 44% were nurses, 50% worked in a metropolitan service and 73% had >10 years’ clinical experience. Forty-nine per cent were aware of the OCP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer and 65% were confident in asking patients if they identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Nineteen per cent of health professionals sometimes, often, or always used the Supportive Care Needs Assessment Tool for Indigenous People (SCNAT-IP). OCP awareness was associated with attending cultural training. Practicing as a nurse and OCP awareness were associated with confidence in asking patients if they identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Use of the SCNAT-IP was associated with regional services, OCP awareness and confidence in asking patients if they identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Factors unrelated to the above-mentioned factors included Indigenous/non-Indigenous status of the participant, years of clinical experience and previously providing care to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.

Conclusions

This study provides preliminary evidence that health professionals who attend cultural training have greater awareness of the OCP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. Future cohort studies are needed to assess longitudinal application of this OCP.

 

  1. Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer | Cancer Australia
  2. Guide to implementing the OCP for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer: optimal_care_pathway_for_aboriginal_and_torres_strait_islander_people_with_cancer_the_guide.pdf (canceraustralia.gov.au)