Seth Seifert
Visualizing the radiation experience for rural cancer patients
Mentor: Gita Suneja, MD, MS
Department: Radiation Oncology
Purpose/Objectives
People living in rural communities experience disparities in accessing cancer treatment, yet little is known about the challenges rural patients experience when undergoing radiotherapy. In this study, we aimed to describe how rural cancer patients (a) experience their diagnosis and radiation journey and (b) employ coping mechanisms during radiotherapy at a facility far from home.
Materials/Methods
Adults living in rural areas who were beginning radiotherapy at HCI were invited to participate. Using a qualitative, photo-elicitation method, participants took photographs documenting their experiences during radiation treatment. Upon completing radiotherapy, participants uploaded 10 photographs and completed individual interviews. The interviews were transcribed and coded with NVivo software using the practical thematic analysis approach.
Results
Participants (N=7) with an age range of 32-69 years, lived an average of 175 miles from the treatment center with travel times ranging from 1 to 6 hours. During interviews, three themes emerged related to the impact of receiving radiation therapy far from home: isolation, sadness, & apprehension; changes to day-to-day life and routines; and interpersonal burdens related to relationships and family. Three strategies emerged related to coping mechanisms: mental; physical; and social.
Conclusion
This study demonstrated that traveling from a rural to a metropolitan area to receive radiotherapy treatment results in emotional, financial, and social effects that may compound the adverse effects of undergoing cancer treatment. The photo-elicitation method allowed rural participants to express and conceptualize their experiences receiving cancer treatment far from home with a patient-focused lens that more traditional approaches are unable to elucidate.
