ORIGINAL RESEARCH AUTHORS Christina M Bernardes PhD, Research Officer *, christina.bernardes@qimrberghofer.edu.au Abbey Diaz PhD, Senior Research Officer Patricia C Valery PhD, Team Head, Cancer and Chronic Disease Research Group Sabe Sabesan PhD, FRACP, Adjunct Professor, sabe.sabesan@health.qld.gov.au Siddhartha Baxi MBBS, GAICD, FRANZCR, Radiation Oncologist and Director Samar Aoun PhD, Professor of Palliative Care Sandra C Thompson PhD, Professor of Rural Health Mari Lashbrook RN, RAN, PhD student, mlashbrook@riverinacancercare.com.au Gail Garvey PhD, Senior Principal Research Fellow CORRESPONDENCE *Dr Christina M Bernardes christina.bernardes@qimrberghofer.edu.au AFFILIATIONS QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Cancer and Chronic Disease Research Group, Herston Road, Central Building, Level 4, Herston, Qld 4006, Australia Menzies School of Health Research, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Charles Darwin University, Level 10 East Tower, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, 300 Herston Rd, Herston, Qld 4006; and Menzies School of Health Research, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Charles Darwin University, Level 10 East Tower, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia Department of Medical Oncology, Townsville Cancer Centre, Townsville Hospital and Health Services, Townsville, QLD 4814, Australia GenesisCare Gold Coast, John Flynn Hospital, 42 Inland Drive, Tugun, Qld 4224, Australia Palliative Care Unit, School of Psychology and Public Health, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and The Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia Western Australian Centre for Rural Health, University of Western Australia, PO Box 109, Geraldton, WA 6531, Australia Riverina Regional Cancer Care Centre, 31 Meurant Ave, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia Menzies School of Health Research, Wellbeing and Preventable Chronic Disease Division, Charles Darwin University, Level 10 East Tower, 410 Ann Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia PUBLISHED 16 September 2019 Volume 19 Issue 3 HISTORY Rural and Remote Health rrh.org.au James Cook University ISSN 1445-6354 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9