The significant disparities in cancer outcomes between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients and non-Aboriginal people, are well documented. These disparities in part are a result of factors relating to the accessibility, acceptability and effectiveness of health services. Relatively little attention to date has been directed towards identifying and addressing patient reported outcomes and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cancer patients and their carers, a critical component in improving cancer care and outcomes. There is increasing interest and activity in measuring the patient experience, and a variety of patient experience tools have been developed. There is also growing recognition that different approaches are needed to adequately capture and understand the perspectives and experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients.
Existing PRMs are robust instruments but many lack the inclusion of items that are important to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Concepts and understandings of health and wellbeing, and the importance of connection to family, community and Country are factors that are priorities for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and these must be considered in improving cancer outcomes.
PRMs are used to and guide policies, programs and service delivery - highlighting the critical need to measure what is important to us as Indigenous people so that policies/programs reflect was is relevant and of value to us. This presentation will set the scene for the Symposia presentations to follow that provide discrete examples of PROMs/PREMs development and implementation for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, specifically to assess wellbeing, supportive care needs for carers, and systematic monitoring of the experiences of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer. A panel discussion will address implementation and future challenges for PROMs/PREMs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer