Cancer care is increasingly complex. Advances in treatment modalities available across multiple settings have seen many more patients living with and through cancer, especially in the long term. However, healthcare resources remain finite and under growing strain. Northern Health (NH) recognised the need to stratify patients based on their level of need for additional support.
Through a co-design process with clinicians and consumers with lived experience, NH introduced the Patient Activation Measure (PAM) to assess cancer patients’ knowledge, skills, and confidence in managing their health. The PAM is a validated questionnaire where patients receive a score between 0-100, categorised into 4 levels of activation. These levels reflect how engaged and capable patients are in making decisions and taking actions to improve their health. Higher activation correlates with better health behaviours, improved outcomes, and fewer emergency care episodes.
The project leverages technology to deliver a multilingual Digital Care Pathway (DCP), enabling outcome collection and the delivery of tailored educational resources. This approach ensures equitable support for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities. Over 80% of patients have engaged with the program, demonstrating high satisfaction and increased health confidence. Clinicians report that PAM data enhances shared decision-making, allowing for more personalised care.
By incorporating culturally safe education and addressing barriers to care, the initiative tackles health inequities and optimises resource allocation. Objectives include promoting self-management, using technology for inclusivity, and creating a scalable model. This project is focusing on what matters most to patients, driving meaningful change in cancer care.
