Victorian data indicate those who live outside of major cities are 13% more likely to die from a cancer diagnosis.
The major factors contributing to lower survival among rural patients with cancer include less availability of diagnostic and treatment services, and slower time to diagnosis.
Little progress has been made in the past 20 years to close this gap. “Addressing rural-urban disparities is one of the most important priorities for cancer care in Victoria” says Professor Anna Ugalde, Victorian Cancer Agency Research Fellow and lead of the ECORRA Vic Project, which aims to address this need.
The ECORRA Vic Project seeks to identify evidence-based, cost-effective solutions to enhance cancer care in rural Victoria. By conducting a statewide survey and engaging with key stakeholders, the project seeks to identify the most impactful ways to improve cancer diagnosis and treatment for people living in rural Victoria.
ECORRA Vic will be one of Victoria’s largest explorations into rural cancer care, producing a list of evidence-based and cost-effective solutions that can improve rural cancer care across the state.
Phases
This four-year project will unfold in three phases:
Aims to identify the predictors of unwarranted diagnostic and treatment delays for people with cancer across rural Victoria.
Aims to comprehensively understand the challenges identified in Phase 1 and generate potential solutions.
Aims to evaluate solutions for the challenges in rural care.
Funding
This project is funded by a 2023 Victorian Cancer Agency Mid-Career Research Fellowship awarded to Professor Anna Ugalde.
