Clinician and consumer perceptions of head and neck cancer services in rural areas: Implications for speech pathology service delivery.

In rural areas, consumers face multiple barriers navigating the head and neck cancer treatment pathway, while health services encounter specific challenges ensuring access and equity in care. Despite the complexities, possible avenues for service change and service enhancement are proposed. Speech pathology services in rural areas need to proactively evaluate services and address existing disparities in order to enact positive change for people with head and neck cancer living outside metropolitan locations.