Abstract / Summary
Social determinants of health, including socioeconomic status, education, employment, and residential location, are fundamental for survival. The aim was to assess the factors associated with experiences of navigation and support among Indigenous, Black and Asian Minority adults surviving breast cancer in interior British Columbia. Descriptive cross-sectional research was employed. Forty-four participants completed the breast cancer navigation experiences questionnaire across interior British Columbia. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, one-way Analysis of Variance and Multiple Linear Regression. Navigation and Support Experiences Scores were significant with caregivers/support workers, p < 0.05; educational level (above university/college graduate, being university/college educated), p = 0.03; living in a rural community, p < 0.01; being in full-time employment, p = 0.04; and being in part-time employment, p = 0.03. The Access to Care Services score was significant with the highest level of education, being university/college-educated. The Use of Care Services score was significant with employment full-time, p = 0.04 and part-time, p = 0.04. These findings emphasize the need to increase access and use of care services, along with patient navigators and care coordinators to improve navigation and support in rural communities.