Seeking connection: A qualitative study of psychosocial support needs of rural cancer survivors in Minnesota

IF 2.7 3区医学 Q2 HEALTH CARE SCIENCES & SERVICES

Journal of Rural Health Pub Date : 2025-08-04 DOI:10.1111/jrh.70066

Morgan Gruner MD, Katherine Brown BS, Renee Anderson BS, Shaunequa James MSW, LICSW, Xuan Li MD, MS, Carrie Henning-Smith PhD, Anne Blaes MD, MS, Patricia Jewett PhD, Rachel I. Vogel PhD

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Purpose

Individuals diagnosed with cancer have extensive and often unmet psychosocial support needs. We established a partnership between the University of Minnesota and Gilda's Club to identify survivorship issues, unmet psychosocial support needs, and barriers to receiving cancer support in rural Minnesota.

Methods

We conducted six focus groups and 16 interviews (41 total participants) between November 2022 and January 2024 among cancer survivors living in rural Minnesota. Structured interview guides included questions about survivors’ definition of cancer support, what community support is desired and available, and barriers to obtaining support. Transcripts were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis.

Findings

The mean participant age was 57.1 ± 13.4 years; the majority were female (68%), non-Hispanic White (95%), and college graduates (58%), and they represented many cancer diagnoses, with hematologic (20%) and breast cancers (17%) most frequently reported. Most (73%) were under surveillance (median 4 years from diagnosis). Many participants mentioned extensive travel burdens due to lack of local care, and virtually all participants agreed emotional support was critical. Over half (56%) of participants wished for peer support that they did not have, and 44% said their cancer information needs were insufficiently addressed. Some emphasized that having nurses facilitating care coordination and options for local care made care feel more personalized. Participants identified virtual options for cancer support as potentially beneficial, particularly when meeting in person was not possible.

Conclusions

Lack of peer support, lack of local care, and travel burdens are significant concerns among rural cancer survivors. Participants expressed positive views about their rural residence and mentioned alternatives and rural strengths such as virtual support options, help from nurses, and caring relationships in their communities.

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寻求联系：明尼苏达州农村癌症幸存者心理社会支持需求的定性研究

诊断为癌症的个体具有广泛且往往未得到满足的社会心理支持需求。我们在明尼苏达大学和吉尔达俱乐部之间建立了合作伙伴关系，以确定幸存者问题，未满足的社会心理支持需求，以及在明尼苏达州农村接受癌症支持的障碍。方法：我们在2022年11月至2024年1月期间对居住在明尼苏达州农村的癌症幸存者进行了6个焦点小组和16次访谈（共41名参与者）。结构化访谈指南包括幸存者对癌症支持的定义、需要和可用的社区支持以及获得支持的障碍等问题。对转录本进行归纳主题分析。参与者平均年龄为57.1±13.4岁；大多数是女性（68%），非西班牙裔白人（95%）和大学毕业生（58%），他们代表了许多癌症诊断，最常见的是血液病（20%）和乳腺癌（17%）。大多数患者（73%）接受监测（诊断后中位4年）。许多参与者提到，由于缺乏当地护理，旅行负担很大，几乎所有参与者都认为情感支持至关重要。超过一半（56%）的参与者希望得到他们没有的同伴支持，44%的人表示他们的癌症信息需求没有得到充分解决。一些人强调，让护士促进护理协调和选择当地护理使护理感觉更个性化。参与者认为癌症支持的虚拟选择可能是有益的，特别是在不可能亲自会面的情况下。结论：缺乏同伴支持、缺乏当地护理和旅行负担是农村癌症幸存者的主要问题。参与者对其农村住所表达了积极的看法，并提到了其他选择和农村优势，如虚拟支持选择、护士的帮助和社区内的关怀关系。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Journal of Rural Health 医学-公共卫生、环境卫生与职业卫生

CiteScore

7.60

自引率

6.10%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： The Journal of Rural Health, a quarterly journal published by the NRHA, offers a variety of original research relevant and important to rural health. Some examples include evaluations, case studies, and analyses related to health status and behavior, as well as to health work force, policy and access issues. Quantitative, qualitative and mixed methods studies are welcome. Highest priority is given to manuscripts that reflect scholarly quality, demonstrate methodological rigor, and emphasize practical implications. The journal also publishes articles with an international rural health perspective, commentaries, book reviews and letters.