Background: Appropriate co-design of a cancer nursing model of care prioritises the expertise and knowledge of people with lived experience. This study aimed to design and implement targeted strategies for engaging priority populations in the co-design of a cancer nursing model of care. Specifically, strategies were put in place to include Chinese speaking cancer survivors.
Methods: The overall initiative focused on amplifying the voices of diverse groups, including First Nations Australians, LGBTIQ individuals, people with disabilities, individuals living in rural and remote areas, younger people, older people, socio economically disadvantaged people, people with a mental illness, and culturally and linguistically diverse communities, as specified in the Australian Cancer Plan. A partnership with CanRevive Inc. 更生會 was established to design specific engagement strategies that address barriers to recruitment of Chinese speaking cancer survivors. This included the translation of material into language, targeted recruitment by community members, and delivering the session in a location familiar and comfortable to participants.
Results: A 3.5-hour workshop was held in Sydney with 14 Chinese participants, including 10 cancer survivors and 4 caregivers. A Mandarin interpreter was used to facilitate the session. The findings highlighted the important role of culturally specific organisations to support the needs of people, particularly in times of need like a cancer diagnosis. An important aspect of the engagement was the involvement of caregivers, as in some communities decision-making processes that influence outcomes are often collective of the patient, the caregiver, and other members of the family.
Conclusion and clinical implications: Collaborative efforts between non-governmental organisations and peak bodies can build trust and create safe spaces for participants from priority populations. The integration of these insights will ensure that the development of a model of care for cancer nursing reflects the lived experiences of diverse populations.