Improving the Journey for Elsipogtog First Nation Patients Along the Cancer Care Continuum

Improving the Journey for Elsipogtog First Nation Patients Along the Cancer Care Continuum aimed to improve the journey of Elsipogtog First Nations patients along the cancer care continuum by identifying client needs, creating solutions to improve quality patient-centered navigation and discharge planning, generating ways to provide culturally responsive care, and by developing and implementing a community-based physical activity and cancer survivorship program.

Location: New Brunswick

Timeline: 2016-2017

Funded partner: Elsipogtog Health and Wellness Centre

Partners:

  • Elsipogtog traditional elders and cancer survivors
  • Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont University Hospital Centre (Vitalité Health Network) 
  • The Moncton Hospital (Horizon Health Network)
  • New Brunswick Health Council
  • New Brunswick Breast & Women’s Cancer Partnership
  • New Brunswick Department of Health (New Brunswick Cancer Network)  

Focus:

  • A steering committee was formed to provide advisory support and guide project work.
  • Patient survivor stories and results from the New Brunswick Hospital Patient Care Experience Survey (NBHC, 2013), New Brunswickers’ Experiences with Primary Health Services (NBHC, 2014) and New Brunswickers’ Experiences with Home Care (NBHC, 2015) were documented, analyzed and compared to understand First Nation cancer experiences.
  • A cultural sensitivity training session was organized for oncology staff at Vitalité Health Network and Horizon Health Network in January 2017 to increase knowledge and awareness of First Nation cultures and worldviews to promote culturally safe cancer care delivery.

Outcomes:

  • Strengthened relationships and knowledge exchange between project partners
  • Community-based physical activity and cancer survivorship programs were developed and implemented by Elsipogtog Health and Wellness Centre