Grant: Undergraduate Student Research Awards (USRA)

"Introduction: Older adults with cancer living in rural and remote areas often experience limited access to comprehensive oncology care. Barriers such as geographical isolation and a lack of services and resources contribute to inequalities across the cancer care continuum-from screening to palliative care. Purpose: This project aims to systematically review the healthcare resources available for older adults with cancer in rural and remote areas, identify the gaps in the services, and propose strategies to overcome these barriers. Methods: To understand the current stage of knowledge, databases such as CINHAL, Ovid Medline and grey literature will be used. Sources will focus on oncology care in rural and remote regions with an emphasis on older adults while excluding information limited to only pediatric populations or urban regions. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis will be used for the selection process of studies that will be screened, included, or excluded in the systematic review. Results: This review is expected to reveal ongoing barriers and gaps in geriatric oncology care in rural and remote areas, including limited access to early detection, treatment, and supportive care in Canada. Examining international models may help identify effective strategies relevant to similar settings. Conclusion: This review will guide efforts to address inequalities in rural and remote cancer care and help support the development of more accessible, geriatric-focused oncology care across Canada."