The virtual cup of coffee: Northern cancer patients' experience with social work and Telehealth.

Social work in oncology addresses the distress experienced by people dealing with cancer. Residents of northern British Columbia have access to this service through Telehealth. Seven people, who were dealing with cancer, were individually interviewed using semi-structured, open ended questions about their experiences using social work through telehealth. The data was divided into textural and structural themes and analyzed through the writer's own experience with providing oncology social work and telehealth to over 500 people in Northern BC. The results are that some people with cancer 1) feel alone, 2) receive the service at inopportune times and 3) feel discomfort with it. However, once rapport was achieved through incorporating northern realities into the experience, participants felt the service was helpful and comfortable and all would recommend it. Despite this, without the proper structural and system support, careful consideration should be made before this mode of oncology social work delivery is more widely used. --Leaf ii.