The Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are frameworks for the delivery of best practice care for people with cancer, according to specific cancer types, such as breast cancer or prostate cancer. They provide guidance for the delivery of optimal cancer care, from prevention through to survivorship or end of life, and are a foundation of the 2023 Australian Cancer Plan.
The Australian Cancer Plan also recognises 10 population groups who are at risk of having poorer cancer outcomes, due to systemic barriers limiting equitable cancer care. To reduce these inequities, the Australian Cancer Plan recommends that additional, dedicated Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are developed to support an individual from one of these population groups.
“People living in rural and remote areas experience poorer cancer outcomes compared to people living in metropolitan areas”, says Dr Hannah Beks, Research Fellow at Deakin Rural Health and Registered Nurse. However, only OCPs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer and adolescent and young adults with cancer have been developed. “No OCP exists for the priority population of people living in rural and remote areas of Australia” says Dr Beks.
The ECORRA OCP project will develop a new Optimal Care Pathway for people living in rural and remote areas, a priority population recognised in the Australian Cancer Plan.
This new Optimal Care Pathway will address the unique barriers faced by people living outside major cities or regional hubs, ensuring equitable access to high-quality cancer care. The Optimal Care Pathway resources will help rural health services to align with the goals of the 2023 Australian Cancer Plan.
Project details
This 18-month project, which commenced in September 2024, will follow the recently updated National Optimal Care Pathways Framework and OCP Toolkit. Key elements include:
Literature review
- A literature review will be undertaken to determine relevant literature to inform the development of the new Optimal Care Pathway, focusing on access to optimal cancer care in rural and remote locations.
Working party
- Whilst based in evidence, the use of a co-design approach is the basis upon which OCPs are developed. The co-design methodology ensures that multidisciplinary health care professionals are represented, and that the voices of persons with the lived experience of cancer are included.
- Health care professionals and persons with the lived experience of cancer are recruited to join a Working Party, whose role it is to develop the content of the Optimal Care Pathway, with structure and guidance provided by a Chairperson and the ECORRA OCP Investigators.
Resource production
- A new Optimal Care Pathway will include three core resources. These include the full Optimal Care Pathway for People Living in Rural and Remote Areas, a Quick Reference Guide for use by health professionals and services, and a Guide to Best Cancer Care for people affected by cancer.
- In addition, to improve accessibility, these three core resources will be translated into 10 additional languages and an audio-recording will be produced. At the end of the project, a public launch, active promotion, and an evaluation of the impact these resources have on improving cancer care will be undertaken to increase awareness and support uptake, ultimately leading to improved cancer care for rural and remote Australians.
Project Funding
This project was funded by the Commonwealth of Australia represented by the Department of Health and Aged Care.
Partnering organisations
The ECORRA OCP project represents a collaboration between Deakin University and Cancer Council Australia.
By combining Deakin University’s research excellence with the Cancer Council’s extensive expertise and experience in cancer care and its strong reputation within the community, we aim to significantly enhance the lives of rural Australians facing the challenges of cancer.
Activities and Impacts
ECORRA OCP Launches Working Party Recruitment at 2024 COSA Annual Meeting
