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Objective: Individuals with head and neck cancer residing in rural areas face numerous challenges accessing post-acute rehabilitation services, including speech pathology services. In order to inform future service enhancements, the key issues impacting access to, and the provision of, speech pathology head and neck cancer services in rural areas was explored through the perspectives of patients, carers, speech pathology clinicians and service managers. Setting: A rural health referral network in Queensland consisting of tertiary, regional and remote hospitals.Participants: Twenty-eight participants, including 12 speech pathology staff/ managers and 16 consumers (people with head and neck cancer/carers).Design: Qualitative methodology using semi-structured interviews was analysed using content analysis. Results: Two themes were identified from the consumer group including (a) navigating health services for head and neck cancer management and (b) burden of accessing head and neck cancer care. Speech pathology staff/managers interviews raised 3 themes: (a) transfer of care and access to local services, (b) workforce and workload and (c) travelling impacts the service our patients can receive. An integrative theme across both groups highlighted the perceived disparity in health care access that existed for people with head and neck cancer in rural areas. How to cite this article: Foley J, Nund RL, Ward EC, et al. Clinician and consumer perceptions of head and neck cancer services in rural areas: Implications for speech pathology service delivery.

Background Speech pathology (SP) services provide swallowing and communication intervention to people with head and neck cancer (HNC) across the continuum of care. However, difficulties exist with access and delivery of services in rural areas. The study aim was to identify actionable goals for SP change, utilizing a concept mapping approach. Methods Eleven SP staff from two regional/remote services completed the concept mapping process. Multivariate analysis and multidimensional scaling were used to develop a final set of prioritized goals for change. Results Between the two participating health services, 30 actionable goals were identified within the “green‐zone” on the go‐zone graph of importance and changeability. Among the most highly rated areas for change was the need to deliver and receive more support for training, mentoring, and supervision to consolidate skills. Conclusions This methodology enabled identification of prioritized, actionable changes to improve SP services for people with HNC living in regional/remote areas.

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