Introduction

The current diagnostic and referral lung cancer pathway in rural and remote Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities in Queensland is unclear. It is also not known how much of a problem lung cancer is in these communities nor how much awareness exists regarding lung cancer risk factors and early symptoms. Knowledge from the research will enable better health service planning and help reduce any gaps identified in the pathway experienced by Indigenous people living in remote communities.

Aim

1. Describe the local and regional health care facilities for Indigenous people who may be referred for suspected lung cancer across the state of Queensland.

2. Interview Indigenous people and Indigenous health workers in 3 population sample groups from six rural and remote Indigenous communities in Queensland to identify level of awareness and variations in patient flow relative to predicted utilisation of local and regional health care facilities.

1. Using publicly available information, identify relevant health care facilities including those with diagnostic bronchoscopy (with or without endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) services across Queensland to predict expected referral pathways for suspected lung cancer.

2. Using quantitative and qualitative approaches to learn preferred referral pathways from 3 target population groups including patients referred for medical treatment with symptoms suspicious of lung cancer or confirmed lung cancer, Indigenous health workers, Indigenous community members aged 18 years and older.

Preliminary results have identified a spectrum of health care services across Queensland where patients may be referred for lung cancer management, ranging from public to private facilities. There are seventeen discrete Indigenous communities in Queensland. Compared to the nearest health care facility which offer diagnostic bronchosopy, 5 discrete Indigenous communities are situated > 200km away, 9 > 500km away and 2> 1000km away. Only one is situated 50km away.