Patient experience

The premise of person-centred cancer care is that the patient is the constant across the cancer care continuum. The health system has a responsibility to deliver cancer care for individuals in an appropriate, responsive and coordinated way that delivers optimal clinical outcomes and patient experience.

Work is ongoing to determine the most critical aspects of care that shape the experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. Research suggests that cultural safety, coordination of care within and across health care settings, involvement of family and friends, and effective communication and education all play an important role in delivering an optimal experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people across the cancer continuum.¹

Data availability

There are currently no national data available for this indicator.

The National Cancer Control Indicators (NCCI) includes agreed measures for the patient experience indicator which currently do not have data against them and are undergoing a review. 

No national patient experience data are available for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer.

Further information

• Cancer Australia. Optimal Care Pathway for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer

References

1. Green M, Anderson K, Griffiths K et al. Understanding Indigenous Australians’ experiences of cancer care: stakeholders’views on what to measure and how to measure it. BMC Health Services Research. 2018;18:982. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-018-3780-8