Awareness as a dimension of health care access: exploring the case of rural palliative care provision in Canada

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dc.contributor.authorPugh, Arlanna
dc.contributor.authorCastleden, Heather
dc.contributor.authorGiesbrecht, Melissa
dc.contributor.authorDavison, Colleen
dc.contributor.authorCrooks, Valorie
dc.date.accessioned2025-02-20T19:40:14Z
dc.date.available2025-02-20T19:40:14Z
dc.date.issued2019
dc.description.abstractObjectives In Canada, the rural elderly population is increasing in size, as is their need for palliative care services in these settings. This analysis aims to identify awareness-associated barriers to delivering rural palliative care services, along with suggestions for improving service delivery from the perspective of local health care providers. Methods A total of 40 semi-structured interviews with various formal and informal health care providers were conducted in four rural and/or remote Canadian communities with limited palliative care resources. Interview data were thematically coded using Penchansky and Thomas’ five dimensions of access (i.e. availability, (geographic) accessibility, accommodation, acceptability and affordability). Saurman’s recently added sixth dimension of access – awareness – was also identified while coding and subsequently became the primary focus of this analysis. Results Identified barriers to palliative care awareness and suggestions on how to enhance this awareness, and ultimately palliative care delivery, corresponded with three key themes arising from the data: limited palliative care knowledge/education, communication and coordination. Participants recognized the need for more palliative care education, open lines of communication and better coordination of palliative care initiatives and local resources in their communities. Conclusions These findings suggest that identifying the barriers to palliative care awareness in rural communities may be foundational to addressing barriers to the other five dimensions of access. A thorough understanding of these three areas of awareness knowledge, communication and coordination, as well as the connections between them, may help enhance how rural palliative care is delivered in the future.
dc.description.reviewstatusReviewed
dc.description.scholarlevelFaculty
dc.description.sponsorshipThis research was completed with financial support from the Indigenous Mentorship Network of Ontario and a Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarship.
dc.identifier.citationPugh, A., Castleden, H., Giesbrecht, M., Davison, C., & Crooks, V. (2019b). Awareness as a dimension of health care access: exploring the case of rural palliative care provision in Canada. Journal of Health Services Research & Policy, 24(2), 108–115. 10.1177/1355819619829782
dc.identifier.urihttps://doi.org/10.1177/1355819619829782
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1828/21237
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherJournal of Health Services Research & Policy
dc.titleAwareness as a dimension of health care access: exploring the case of rural palliative care provision in Canada
dc.typeArticle

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