Table 1 Barriers facing Indigenous patients accessing CTS-NT across the five dimensions of accessibility

Approachability

• Patients being ill-prepared and poorly-informed about their cancer

• Patients being poorly-informed about the nature and justification for the treatment

• Mistrust of mainstream health services

• Delayed and complicated commencement of cancer treatment

• Dislocation from home while accessing treatment

• Juggling priorities at home with the demands of cancer treatment

Acceptability

• Scarcity of Indigenous care providers and staff at CTS-NT

• Incongruity of values between Indigenous patients and the CTS-NT

• Insufficiency of culturally-sensitive care

• Challenges associated with language, translation, and communication

Availability and accommodation

• Difficulties accessing transport

• Inappropriate and/or unacceptable accommodation and food

• Dislocation from social support

Affordability

• ‘Hidden costs’ associated with travel, accommodation and food

• Loss of income occasioned financial hardship

• Challenges supporting family

• Uncertainty around financial supports available to patients

• Lack of knowledge on where access information about financial support

Appropriateness

• Disjointed and fraught relationships with care providers

• High staff turnover rates hindering culturally-sensitive care