Supportive care services in New Brunswick, Canada: An environmental scan

Charlotte Schwarz; Alison Luke; Lauren Renée Ashfield; Julie Easley; Stephanie McIntosh-Lawrence; Danie Beaulieu; Shelley Doucet

doi:10.5737/23688076342215

Supportive care services in New Brunswick, Canada: An environmental scan

Can Oncol Nurs J. 2024 Apr 1;34(2):215-222. doi: 10.5737/23688076342215. eCollection 2024 Spring.

Authors

Charlotte Schwarz¹, Alison Luke², Lauren Renée Ashfield³, Julie Easley⁴, Stephanie McIntosh-Lawrence⁵, Danie Beaulieu⁶, Shelley Doucet⁷

Affiliations

¹ Research Coordinator, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB.
² Research Associate, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB.
³ Research Assistant, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB.
⁴ Research Director, Medical Education Department, Horizon Health Network, Fredericton, NB.
⁵ Radiation Oncology, Horizon Health Network, Saint John, NB.
⁶ Student in clinical psychology, Department of Psychology, University of New Brunswick, Fredericton, NB.
⁷ Professor, Department of Nursing and Health Sciences, University of New Brunswick, Saint John, NB.

Abstract

Cancer diagnosis and treatment often have significant physical and psychological implications for both the survivor and their family/caregivers. Necessary services extend beyond medical treatment and include a variety of supportive care services (SCS) that address individuals' physical, social, educational, and emotional needs. This study seeks to map the SCS available in the province of New Brunswick (NB), Canada, for cancer survivors, their families, and their caregivers. An environmental scan was conducted to assess current SCS available in NB. While some SCS exist in NB, they are not always easily accessible or identifiable, and gaps in services were prevalent. In particular, a gap in services was found for individuals who are no longer actively receiving cancer treatment, as well as for family members and caregivers.