{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,14]],"date-time":"2026-07-14T18:13:36Z","timestamp":1784052816511,"version":"3.55.0"},"reference-count":19,"publisher":"Springer Science and Business Media LLC","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,4]],"date-time":"2026-06-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780531200000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"},{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,4]],"date-time":"2026-06-04T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1780531200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100000882","name":"University of Aberdeen","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100000882","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["link.springer.com"],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Support Care Cancer"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,7]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Purpose<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Quantitative studies show that rural-dwelling cancer patients experience poorer survival than urban residents, but the mechanisms remain unclear. This study explored how rural versus urban residence shaped cancer care experiences among patients interviewed after primary treatment in Northeast Scotland, including treatment access, follow-up, recovery, and ongoing engagement with services.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Semi-structured interviews were conducted with adults diagnosed within the previous 6\u201312\u00a0months, post-primary treatment, and attending oncology follow-up at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Topic guides were informed by a socioecological model of rural cancer disadvantage. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, anonymised, and analysed using the Framework Method. Sampling was purposive for geography, age, and sex. Ethical approval was granted by the North of Scotland Research Ethics Committee (REC 19\/NS\/0032).<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Twenty participants (mean age 67; 13 men, 7 women; 9 rural, 11 urban) described experiences of colorectal (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200912), prostate (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20093), and other cancers (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20095). Four themes were identified: (1) impact of distance and travel time\u2014travel amplified fatigue, costs, and uncertainty; (2) access, trust, and communication\u2014variable GP access but high trust in the cancer centre; (3) physical and social infrastructure\u2014benefits of improved roads, direct bus routes, and third-sector support; (4) pros and cons of rural life\u2014rural lifestyle benefits often offset travel burdens. Men tended to rely mainly on partners, while women reported broader networks. Cancer type and age intersected with geography to shape burdens such as continence-related travel constraints after prostate surgery.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Geography influenced the burden of accessing rather than the quality of care. Person-centred scheduling, local delivery of peripheral care, transport-aware planning, and collaboration with third-sector providers could mitigate inequities.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-026-10836-2","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,4]],"date-time":"2026-06-04T07:20:40Z","timestamp":1780557640000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/springer_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["\u201cYou lose a day for every appointment\u201d: A qualitative study of how rural versus urban residence shapes cancer care experiences in Northeast Scotland"],"prefix":"10.1007","volume":"34","author":[{"given":"Romi","family":"Carriere","sequence":"first","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rosalind","family":"Adam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leslie","family":"Samuel","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Peter","family":"Murchie","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"297","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,4]]},"reference":[{"key":"10836_CR1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"219","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2018.08.010","volume":"53","author":"R Carri\u00e8re","year":"2018","unstructured":"Carri\u00e8re R, Adam R, Fielding S, Barlas R, Ong Y, Murchie P (2018) Rural dwellers are less likely to survive cancer: an international review and meta-analysis. Health Place 53:219\u2013227. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.healthplace.2018.08.010","journal-title":"Health Place"},{"issue":"15","key":"10836_CR2","first-page":"1","volume":"13","author":"F Brundisini","year":"2013","unstructured":"Brundisini F, Giacomini M, DeJean D, Vanstone M, Winsor S, Smith A (2013) Chronic disease patients\u2019 experiences with accessing health care in rural and remote areas: a systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis. Ont Health Technol Assess Ser 13(15):1\u201333","journal-title":"Ont Health Technol Assess Ser"},{"issue":"4","key":"10836_CR3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"188","DOI":"10.1111\/j.1440-1584.2002.tb00031.x","volume":"10","author":"AM Clavarino","year":"2002","unstructured":"Clavarino AM, Lowe JB, Carmont SA, Balanda K (2002) The needs of cancer patients and their families from rural and remote areas of Queensland. Aust J Rural Health 10(4):188\u2013195. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/j.1440-1584.2002.tb00031.x","journal-title":"Aust J Rural Health"},{"issue":"9","key":"10836_CR4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"2547","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-013-1812-9","volume":"21","author":"K Gunn","year":"2013","unstructured":"Gunn K, Turnbull D, McWha JL, Davies M, Olver I (2013) Psychosocial service use: a qualitative exploration from the perspective of rural Australian cancer patients. Support Care Cancer 21(9):2547\u20132555. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00520-013-1812-9","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"key":"10836_CR5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.healthplace.2023.103139","volume":"84","author":"M Turner","year":"2023","unstructured":"Turner M, Carri\u00e8re R, Fielding S, Ramsay G, Samuel L, Maclaren A, Murchie P (2023) The impact of travel time to cancer treatment centre on post-diagnosis care and mortality among cancer patients in Scotland. Health Place 84:103139. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.healthplace.2023.103139","journal-title":"Health Place"},{"issue":"12","key":"10836_CR6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3390\/medicina59122121","volume":"59","author":"L Cavanna","year":"2023","unstructured":"Cavanna L, Citterio C, Mordenti P, Proietto M, Bosi C, Vecchia S (2023) Cancer treatment closer to the patient reduces travel burden, time toxicity, and improves patient satisfaction: results of 546 consecutive patients in a Northern Italian district. Medicina (Kaunas) 59(12):2121. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/medicina59122121","journal-title":"Medicina (Kaunas)"},{"issue":"3","key":"10836_CR7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s00520-024-08342-4","volume":"32","author":"N Ali","year":"2024","unstructured":"Ali N, Nelson D, McInnerney D, Quaife SL, Laparidou D, Selby P et al (2024) A systematic review on the qualitative experiences of people living with lung cancer in rural areas. 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Support Care Cancer 32(4):261. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1007\/s00520-024-08464-9","journal-title":"Support Care Cancer"},{"issue":"2","key":"10836_CR10","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"360","DOI":"10.1111\/jrh.12665","volume":"38","author":"K Ratnapradipa","year":"2022","unstructured":"Ratnapradipa K, McElfish PA, Hallgren E, Rubon-Chutaro J, Payakachat N et al (2022) Understanding rural cancer survivors\u2019 experiences with follow-up care: a qualitative study. J Rural Health 38(2):360\u2013370. https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1111\/jrh.12665","journal-title":"J Rural Health"},{"issue":"3","key":"10836_CR11","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"439","DOI":"10.1038\/bjc.2017.180","volume":"117","author":"M Turner","year":"2017","unstructured":"Turner M, Fielding S, Ong Y, Dibben C, Feng Z, Brewster DH et al (2017) A cancer geography paradox? 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The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments.","order":1,"name":"Ethics","label":"Ethics approval","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Written informed consent was obtained from all participants interviewed face-to-face. For telephone interviews, consent was audio-recorded. Consent was reaffirmed immediately prior to each interview.","order":2,"name":"Ethics","label":"Consent to participate","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"Not applicable. The manuscript contains anonymised qualitative data and does not include identifiable individual information.","order":3,"name":"Ethics","label":"Consent for publication","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}},{"value":"The authors declare no competing interests.","order":4,"name":"Ethics","label":"Competing interests","group":{"name":"EthicsHeading","label":"Declarations"}}],"article-number":"615"}}