Journal Article

“It really takes a village”: perspectives on multi-level barriers to endometrial cancer care for rural patients

Taffe, Brianna D., Wheeler, Stephanie B., Albright, Benjamin B., Spees, Lisa P., Lanneau, Grainger, Leeman, Jennifer, Biru, Blen M., Bae-Jump, Victoria L., Petermann, Victoria

2025

Overview

Purpose While it is established that rural cancer patients face multi-level barriers to high-quality treatment, the interconnections between these barriers and how they drive rural cancer disparities is not well-understood. Therefore, our objective was to better understand the interconnections between barriers to high-quality treatment faced by rural endometrial cancer (EC) patients. Methods We conducted semi-structured interviews with 32 clinicians and healthcare personnel from three large, geographically diverse, rural-serving, integrated healthcare systems in North Carolina. A semi-structured interview guide was developed to examine barriers to high-quality treatment for rural EC patients. Initial codes were derived from a multi-level conceptual framework of rural cancer control, and transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. Results We identified three domains of interconnected barriers. First, travel distance, the most frequently noted barrier, amplified financial barriers and caregiver burden. While gynecologic oncologists could reduce travel burden by referring patients to nearby treatment facilities, provider participants expressed mixed opinions regarding the quality of care received at local facilities. Second, limited health literacy among rural patients often led to challenges in patient-provider communication, including challenges with care-related decision making and comprehension of diagnosis and treatment goals. Finally, supportive care and financial resources were often concentrated at large, urban facilities and not accessible to rural patients. However, even these large facilities lack established systems or standardized processes for supporting the most vulnerable patients. Conclusion To achieve equitable access to care and outcomes among EC patients, those living in rural areas may require more targeted, intensive outreach, support, and resources.

• Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg,Springer,Springer Nature B.V
• Subject: Adult / Attitudes / Barriers / Cancer / Cancer patients / Care and treatment / Caregiver burden / Caregivers / Clinical outcomes / Comprehension / Decision making / Endometrial cancer / Endometrial Neoplasms - therapy / Female / Frame analysis / Health care / Health care access / Health care industry / Health disparities / Health Literacy / Health Personnel - psychology / Health services / Health Services Accessibility - economics / Healthcare Disparities / Humans / Interconnections / Interviews / Interviews as Topic / Literacy / Male / Medical decision making / Medical diagnosis / Medical personnel / Medical treatment / Medicine / Medicine & Public Health / Middle Aged / North Carolina / Nursing / Nursing Research / Oncologists / Oncology / Pain Medicine / Patient communication / Patients / Qualitative Research / Quality of care / Quality of Health Care / Rehabilitation Medicine / Rural areas / Rural communities / Rural health care / Rural Health Services - standards / Rural Population / Travel / Vulnerability