Does breast cancer policy meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia? a review

Vita Christie; Lynette Riley; Deb Green; Kylie Snook; Mandy Henningham; Boe Rambaldini; Janaki Amin; Chris Pyke; Megan Varlow; Sally Goss; John Skinner; Ross O'Shea; Deb McCowen; Kylie Gwynne

doi:10.1186/s12939-023-01941-3

Does breast cancer policy meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women in Australia? a review

Int J Equity Health. 2023 Jul 5;22(1):129. doi: 10.1186/s12939-023-01941-3.

Authors

Vita Christie¹, Lynette Riley², Deb Green³, Kylie Snook⁴, Mandy Henningham⁵, Boe Rambaldini⁶, Janaki Amin⁷, Chris Pyke⁸, Megan Varlow⁹, Sally Goss¹⁰, John Skinner⁶, Ross O'Shea¹¹, Deb McCowen¹², Kylie Gwynne^{6

2}

Affiliations

¹ Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research and Education, Macquarie University, 6 First Walk, Sydney, NSW , 2109, Australia. vita.christie@mq.edu.au.
² Indigenous Studies & Aboriginal Education, The University of Sydney, Education Building (A36), Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
³ Armajun Aboriginal Health Service, Rusden Street, Armidale, NSW, 2350, Australia.
⁴ BreastSurgANZ, Black Rock, Melbourne, Victoria, 3193, Australia.
⁵ Cancer Council Australia, Level 2, 320 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2000, Australia.
⁶ Djurali Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Research and Education, Macquarie University, 6 First Walk, Sydney, NSW , 2109, Australia.
⁷ Department of Health Sciences, Macquarie University, 75 Talavera Road, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
⁸ Mater Hospital, Vulture Street, South Brisbane, QLD, 4101, Australia.
⁹ Cancer Council Australia, Level 2, 320 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
¹⁰ University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
¹¹ Foundation of Breast Cancer Care and Breast SurgANZ, Black Rock, Melbourne, Victoria, 3193, Australia.
¹² Armajun Aboriginal Health Service, Rivers St, Inverell, NSW, 2360, Australia.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate if existing Australian public policy related to screening, diagnosis, treatment and follow up care for breast cancer addresses the needs of and outcomes for Indigenous¹ women?

Methods: This review of policy employed a modified Delphi method via an online panel of experts (n = 13), who were purposively recruited according to experience and expertise. A series of online meetings and online surveys were used for data collection. The aims of the study were to: Identify all existing and current breast cancer policy in Australia; Analyse the extent to which consideration of Indigenous peoples is included in the development, design and implementation of the policy; and Identify policy gaps and make recommendations as to how they could be addressed. The policies were evaluated using 'A Guide to Evaluation under the Indigenous Evaluation Strategy, 2020'.

Results: A list of current breast cancer policies (n = 7) was agreed and analysed. Five draft recommendations to improve breast cancer outcomes for Indigenous women were developed and refined by the panel.

Conclusions: Current breast cancer policy in Australia does not address the needs of Indigenous women and requires change to improve outcomes.

Keywords: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander; Breast cancer; Health; Indigenous; Policy.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Australia
Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples
Breast Neoplasms* / therapy
Female
Health Services, Indigenous*
Humans
Policy
Surveys and Questionnaires