Psychosocial Oncology Disparities: Treating the Whole Person in Rural Indigenous Communities

Abstract

s In recent years, psychosocial services have been viewed as paramount in treating cancer, yet disparities exist in psychosocial services for rural cancer patients. Using ecological theory, cancer care focuses on more than medical intervention, favoring treatment of the “whole” person. For Indigenous people experiencing cancer, responsive psychosocial interventions and practice frameworks are needed to address health-related distress. Using the intersection of diversity and environment, this conceptual paper provides a review of literature on the topic of cancer care with Indigenous people living in rural areas and furthermore argues that social workers, given educational experiences and practice frameworks, are essential culturally-responsive providers of psychosocial oncology services. Social workers must be utilized and mobilized as health care leaders in order to improve quality of life by advocating for culturally responsive, equitable services for people confronting cancer. Social workers have knowledge and skills to be front-line providers, service mobilizers, and program developers of culturally-responsive psychosocial oncology services.