Patterns of cancer care for Indigenous people in NSW [ 2007 - 2015 ]

Research Grant

Researchers: Prof Dianne O'Connell (Principal investigator) ,  A/Pr Rosemary Knight ,  Anthony Dillon ,  Dr Christy Newman ,  Mr Rajah Supramaniam
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Brief description Cancer is the second biggest killer of Indigenous Australians: for some cancers the mortality rate is more than 3 times higher in Aboriginal people and overall it is 60% higher. While differences in stage at diagnosis and the type and duration of care received by Aboriginal people may contribute to the higher mortality, this has not been studied in detail. New South Wales has the largest Aboriginal population in Australia. Reliable and current data on cancer care for NSW Aboriginal people will allow health services to better target cancer care. The aims of this project are: to determine whether Aboriginal people are being diagnosed with cancer at later stages; to describe the barriers to Aboriginal people being diagnosed earlier and accessing cancer care; to describe the care that Aboriginal people with cancer are currently receiving; and to compare their level and types of care with that received by non-Indigenous people. We will conduct four studies to address these aims. We will conduct interviews with Aboriginal people diagnosed with cancer and Aboriginal health workers who look after people with cancer to find out about their perceptions and experiences of Aboriginal people dealing with cancer. We will analyse a data set containing records from the NSW Central Cancer Registry and hospital admission records for people living in NSW. Treatments for cancer for Aboriginal and non-Indigenous people will be compared. This analysis will be complemented by an examination of records at Aboriginal Medical Services to obtain information on other treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy and referrals to specialists. We will also conduct a population-based patterns of care study where questionnaires seeking information about the diagnostic tests performed and types of treatment given will be sent to doctors who have treated Aboriginal people with cancer. In addition, information will be obtained from Aboriginal people with newly diagnosed cancer about the clinical pathway that led to the diagnosis.

Funding Amount $AUD 1,690,636.74

Funding Scheme Targeted Calls

Notes Health Services Research