Women in rural and regional areas recovering from gynecologic cancer and treatment will now have access to a rehabilitation program at the University of Queensland through telehealth.
Professor Sandie McCarthy of the UQ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work and co-director of Mater Research’s Innovation and Health Care Delivery Program, said additional funding from Wesley Medical Research is expanding the program. ACUMEN to help Queensland regional women access support that was previously unavailable. they.
“More than a third of women living with reproductive cancer in Queensland are from regional and rural areas, and unfortunately many are unable to access the same postoperative support as their city partners,” said Professor McCarthy.
“New funding from Wesley Medical Research expands the current ACUMEN program by providing this group of women with the support they need through telesalut.
“ACUMEN brings together a group of healthcare providers to provide key recovery tools that will improve quality of life, and now we can do that through video conferencing.”
Approximately 20,000 Australian women live with treatment-induced chronic disease after being diagnosed with cancer.
The project’s lead researcher, Dr. Janine Porter-Steele of Wesley Medical Research, Wesley Choices Cancer Support and the UQ School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, said it was important to involve regional and rural women. in the program.
“Most women with reproductive cancer are underactive and that comes down to a lack of support and education provided,” Dr. Porter-Steele said.
“Despite the known benefits of exercise after treatment, only 30% of women follow physical activity guidelines.
“ACUMEN is addressing an unmet need for a large group of women who are at higher risk for chronic illness, such as diabetes, fatigue, and psychological distress.”
Rural and regional participants will receive basic equipment, assessment tools and a Fitbit to monitor the activity.
Supervised exercise sessions will be conducted via a video conferencing platform.
The first phase of the ACUMEN program has offered face-to-face sessions for nearly 50 women in Southeast Queensland over the past year.
Kerry Henry, a program participant, said self-confidence is replaced by fear and loss of control after a cancer diagnosis.
“The program gave me the opportunity to take control of my fitness and, with the support of great exercise physiologists, I improved my strength and balance and I feel much better within myself.” .
Queensland women living in regional and rural areas can join the program by emailing the research team at acumen@uq.edu.au.
The University of Queensland, Wesley Medical Research and The Wesley Hospital, Mater Research and Metro North Health are working together to deliver the ACUMEN program, with new funding from Wesley Medical Research enabling regional and rural women to access the program via telehealth.
Media: UQ Communications, Bridget Druery, b.druery@uq.edu.au, +61 (0) 435 221 246; Wesley Medical Research, Dr. Janine Porter-Steele, Janine.Porter-Steele@uchealth.com.au+61 (0)466 269 562.