Rural literature and media innovation: Psychological support for cancer patients
Abstract
A cancer diagnosis is a serious condition that has a substantial impact on an individual’s emotional and psychological well-being, and their general health. This burden is more profound for cancer patients living in rural regions, where access to psychological support checks, advanced medical facilities, and community-based resources is restricted. The research aims to analyze the viability and tolerability of a novel psychological support intervention that combines rural literature and media innovation to tackle the exclusive challenges faced by cancer patients. A mixed-methods approach is employed, with a pre-and post-intervention survey and semi-structured interviews to assess the intervention’s impact on psychosocial well-being. The intervention is an 8-week media innovation (interactive digital tools) and literature-based intervention designed to address common cancer-specific stressors. A total of 31 participants, including both cancer survivors and those undergoing active treatment. Qualitative feedback from participants is collected through interviews and textual data, while quantitative data assesses changes in psychosocial well-being. The findings showed a post-intervention significant decrease in depressive symptoms and psychological distress, along with non-significant increases in mindfulness and Quality of Life (QoL). This research highlights the potential of combining media innovation and literature-based interventions to improve psychological support for cancer patients, particularly in rural settings, while also emphasizing the need for enhanced community engagement and access to digital resources.
Copyright (c) 2026 Yin Tang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
References
1. O’Mahony C, Byrne S, Aherne J, et al. A qualitative evaluation of community and acute hospital nursing oncology services in Ireland. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2021; 51: 101912. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101912
2. Williams N, Griffin G, Farrell V, et al. Gaining insight into the supportive care needs of women experiencing gynecological cancer: A qualitative study. Journal of Clinical Nursing. 2020; 29(9–10): 1684-1694. doi: 10.1111/jocn.15221
3. Toscano A, Blanchin M, Bourdon M, et al. Longitudinal associations between coping strategies, locus of control and health-related quality of life in patients with breast cancer or melanoma. Quality of Life Research. 2020; 29(5): 1271–1279. doi: 10.1007/s11136-019-02401-8
4. Smith SJ, Smith AB, Kennett W, et al. Exploring cancer patients’, caregivers’, and clinicians’ utilisation and experiences of telehealth services during COVID-19: A qualitative study. Patient Education and Counseling. 2022; 105(10): 3134–3142. doi: 10.1016/j.pec.2022.06.001
5. Khanna D, Sharma P, Budukh A, et al. Rural-urban disparity in cancer burden and care: findings from an Indian cancer registry. BMC cancer. 2024; 24(1): 308. doi: 10.1186/s12885-024-12041-y
6. Tompkins C, Scanlon K, Scott E, et al. Survivorship care and support following treatment for breast cancer: a multi-ethnic comparative qualitative study of women’s experiences. BMC Health Services Research. 2016; 16(1). doi: 10.1186/s12913-016-1625-x
7. Barnes M, Rice K, Usher K, et al. Psychosocial Experiences in an Australian Rural Cancer Service: Mixed-Method Insights into Psychological Distress and Psychosocial Service Barriers. Chen QW, ed. Health & Social Care in the Community. 2023; 2023: 1–11. doi: 10.1155/2023/9040803
8. Rowland S, Forbes R, Howell D, et al. Psychosocial and supportive care needs of individuals with advanced myeloma. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal. 2023; 33(2): 215–222. doi: 10.5737/23688076332215
9. Gulliver A, Morse AR, Banfield M. Cancer Survivors’ Experiences of Navigating the Australian Health Care System for Physical and Mental Health Care Needs. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2023; 20(5): 3988. doi: 10.3390/ijerph20053988
10. Meneses K, Pisu M, Azuero A, et al. A telephone-based education and support intervention for Rural Breast Cancer Survivors: a randomized controlled trial comparing two implementation strategies in rural Florida. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2020; 14(4): 494–503. doi: 10.1007/s11764-020-00866-y
11. Gunn KM, Olver I, Skrabal Ross X, et al. Improving Survivors’ Quality of Life Post-Treatment: The Perspectives of Rural Australian Cancer Survivors and Their Carers. Cancers. 2021; 13(7): 1600. doi: 10.3390/cancers13071600
12. Graham F, Kane R, Gussy M, et al. Recovery of Health and Wellbeing in Rural Cancer Survivors Following Primary Treatment: Analysis of UK Qualitative Interview Data. Nursing Reports. 2022; 12(3): 482–497. doi: 10.3390/nursrep12030046
13. Nicoll I, Lockwood G, Fitch MI. Cancer Survivors Living in Rural Settings: A Qualitative Exploration of Concerns, Positive Experiences and Suggestions for Improvements in Survivorship Care. Current Oncology. 2023; 30(8): 7351–7365. doi: 10.3390/curroncol30080533
14. Bateman J, Egan R, Maclennan K. ‘Survivorship care is one big gap’: a qualitative study of post-treatment supportive care in Aotearoa New Zealand. BMC Health Services Research. 2023; 23(1). doi: 10.1186/s12913-023-09580-8
15. Rowe A, Crawford-Williams F, Goodwin BelindaC, et al. Survivorship care plans and information for rural cancer survivors. Journal of Cancer Survivorship. 2022; 17(2): 441–448. doi: 10.1007/s11764-022-01204-0
16. Fitch MI, Lockwood G, Nicoll I. Physical, emotional, and practical concerns, help-seeking and unmet needs of rural and urban dwelling adult cancer survivors. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2021; 53: 101976. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2021.101976
17. Moss JL, Pinto CN, Mama SK, et al. Rural–urban differences in health-related quality of life: patterns for cancer survivors compared to other older adults. Quality of Life Research. 2020; 30(4): 1131-1143. doi: 10.1007/s11136-020-02683-3
18. Hastert TA, McDougall JA, Strayhorn SM, et al. Social needs and health‐related quality of life among African American cancer survivors: Results from the Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors study. Cancer. 2021; 127(3): 467–475. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33286
19. Kent EE, Lee S, Asad S, et al. “If I wasn’t in a rural area, I would definitely have more support”: social needs identified by rural cancer caregivers and hospital staff. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology. 2022; 41(4): 393–410. doi: 10.1080/07347332.2022.2129547
20. Ratnapradipa KL, Ranta J, Napit K, et al. Qualitative analysis of cancer care experiences among rural cancer survivors and caregivers. The Journal of Rural Health. 2022; 38(4): 876–885. doi: 10.1111/jrh.12665
21. Al-Omari A, Al-Rawashdeh N, Damsees R, et al. Supportive Care Needs Assessment for Cancer Survivors at a Comprehensive Cancer Center in the Middle East: Mending the Gap. Cancers. 2022; 14(4): 1002. doi: 10.3390/cancers14041002
22. Abdelhadi OA, Pollock BH, Joseph JG, et al. Psychological distress and associated additional medical expenditures in adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Cancer. 2022; 128(7): 1523–1531. doi: 10.1002/cncr.34064
23. Heß V, Meng K, Schulte T, et al. Decreased mental health, quality of life, and utilization of professional help in cancer patients with unexpressed needs: A longitudinal analysis. Psycho-Oncology. 2021; 31(5): 725–734. doi: 10.1002/pon.5856
24. Matthys O, De Vleminck A, Dierickx S, et al. Effectiveness of a nurse-delivered (FOCUS+) and a web-based (iFOCUS) psychoeducational intervention for people with advanced cancer and their family caregivers (DIAdIC): study protocol for an international randomized controlled trial. BMC Palliative Care. 2021; 20(1). doi: 10.1186/s12904-021-00895-z
25. Titler M, Shuman C, Dockham B, et al. Acceptability of a Dyadic Psychoeducational Intervention for Patients and Caregivers. Oncology Nursing Forum. 2020; 47(3): 342–351. doi: 10.1188/20.onf.342-351
26. Pethybridge R, Teleni L, Chan RJ. How do family-caregivers of patients with advanced cancer provide symptom self-management support? A qualitative study. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2020; 48: 101795. doi: 10.1016/j.ejon.2020.101795
27. Mehnert-Theuerkauf A, Hufeld JM, Esser P, et al. Prevalence of mental disorders, psychosocial distress, and perceived need for psychosocial support in cancer patients and their relatives stratified by biopsychosocial factors: rationale, study design, and methods of a prospective multi-center observational cohort study (LUPE study). Frontiers in Psychology. 2023; 14(4): 1125545. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1125545
