Boele, Florien and Rosenlund, Lena and Nordentoft, Sara and Melhuish, Sara and Nicklin, Emma and Rydén, Isabelle and Williamson, Aoife and Donders-Kamphuis, Marike and Preusser, Matthias and Le Rhun, Emilie and Kiesel, Barbara and Minniti, Giuseppe and Furtner, Julia and Dirven, Linda and Taphoorn, Martin and Galldiks, Norbert and Rudà, Roberta and Chalmers, Anthony and Short, Susan C. and Piil, Karin and the Nurse and Allied Health Professionals Committee and the Disparity and Inclusion Committee of EANO (2024) Inequalities in access to neuro-oncology supportive care and rehabilitation: a survey of healthcare professionals’ perspectives. Neuro-Oncology Practice, 11 (4). pp. 484-493. ISSN 2054-2577

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Abstract

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 (n = 94) declare to screen (78%) and to refer (83%) their patients routinely for physical/cognitive/emotional issues. Survey completers (n = 103) indicated the main reasons for not screening/referring were (1) lack of suitable referral options (50%); (2) shortage of healthcare professionals (48%); and (3) long waiting lists (42%). To improve service provision, respondents suggested there is a need for education about neuro-oncology-specific issues (75%), improving the availability of services (65%) and staff (64%), developing international guidelines (64%), and strengthening the existing evidence-base for rehabilitation (60%).

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.

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URI https://pub.demo35.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/187
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