Rural Survivorship Navigation Program

Primary objectives

To enhance understanding of the comprehensive psychosocial and medical needs of cancer survivors and caregivers in rural northwest North Carolina, focusing on their health needs, psychosocial concerns, perceived needs related to cancer and survivorship care, access/barriers to care, and knowledge/perceptions of clinical research using focus groups and semi-structured interviews. This aim is hypothesis-generating.

To document rural cancer patient/survivors' reports of: a) health behaviors; b) psychosocial needs; c) current health-related information and supportive care needs; d) barriers to care; e) symptoms and health-related quality of life using a quantitative survey

Inclusion criteria

• Cancer diagnosis (other than non-melanoma skin cancer) and > 6 months post-definitive treatment (e.g., surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation); Survivors on ongoing systemic maintenance therapies (e.g., hormonal therapies and immunotherapies) are eligible
• Currently residing in one of the 6 priority counties in northwest North Carolina (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, or Wilkes) or in a rural area in North Carolina as defined by a rural-urban commuting area (RUCA) code of 4-10.
• Ability and willingness to attend a one-time focus group or interview and/or complete a one-time study survey
• Age greater than 18 years.

Providers:

• Healthcare provider (e.g. primary care, oncology or other specialty, allied health) with knowledge of the needs of adult cancer survivors who are currently working in one of the priority counties in Northwest North Carolina (Alleghany, Ashe, Avery, Mitchell, Stokes, Surry, Watauga, or Wilkes)
• Ability and willingness to attend a one-time interview

Exclusion criteria

• Those who are unable to read and understand English, as the study interviews/focus groups and survey will be conducted in English
• Unwilling to participate in the study