Inequalities in access to neuro-oncology supportive care and rehabilitation: A survey of healthcare professionals' perspectives.

Background

Neuro-oncology patients and caregivers should have equitable access to rehabilitation, supportive-, and palliative care. To investigate existing issues and potential solutions, we surveyed neuro-oncology professionals to explore current barriers and facilitators to screening patients' needs and referral to services.

Methods

Members of the European Association of Neuro-Oncology and the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor Group (EORTC-BTG) were invited to complete a 39-item online questionnaire covering the availability of services, screening, and referral practice. Responses were analyzed descriptively; associations between sociodemographic/clinical variables and screening/referral practice were explored.

Results

In total, 103 participants completed the survey (67% women and 57% medical doctors). Fifteen professions from 23 countries were represented. Various rehabilitation, supportive-, and palliative care services were available yet rated "inadequate" by 21-37% of participants. Most respondents with a clinical role (

Conclusions

Detecting and managing neuro-oncology patients' and caregivers' rehabilitation, supportive,- and palliative care needs can be improved. Better international collaboration can help address healthcare disparities.

Informations de copyright

© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society for Neuro-Oncology and the European Association of Neuro-Oncology. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact [e-mail] for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact [e-mail].

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

B.F.: No COI. D.L.: No COI. D.K.M.: No COI. F.J.: honoraria for lectures and consultations from the following for-profit companies: Novartis, Seagen. G.N.: received honoraria for lectures from Blue Earth Diagnostics and for advisory board participation from Telix Pharmaceuticals. K.B.: No COI. L.R.E.: has received a grant from Bristol Meyer Squibb and honoraria for lectures or advisory board from Bayer, Janssen, Leo Pharma, Pierre Fabre, Roche, Seattle Genetics and Servier. M.S.: No COI. M.G.: reports personal financial interests as an invited speaker for BrainLab and treasurer for the EORTC. N.E.: No COI. N.S.: No COI. P.M.: received honoraria for lectures, consultation or advisory board participation from the following for-profit companies: Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Novartis, Gerson Lehrman Group (GLG), CMC Contrast, GlaxoSmithKline, Mundipharma, Roche, BMJ Journals, MedMedia, Astra Zeneca, AbbVie, Lilly, Medahead, Daiichi Sankyo, Sanofi, Merck Sharp & Dome, Tocagen, Adastra, Gan & Lee Pharmaceuticals, Janssen, Servier, Miltenyi, Böhringer-Ingelheim, Telix, Medscape. R.L.: No COI. R.R.: has received honoraria for lectures or consultation or advisory board from the following companies: UCB, Novocure, Bayer, Servier, Cure-Vac. R.I.: No COI. T.M.: No COI. W.A.: No COI. C.A. Research funding and honoraria from AstraZeneca, Benevolent AI, Duke Street Bio. S.C.S.: Honoraria from Bayer, Chimerix; laboratory project support from Apollomics, Blue Earth Diagnostics; consultancy fees from CeCaVa, Miltenyi, Tocagen, Servier; travel support from Blue Earth Diagnostics. K.P.: No COI.