Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42472281›Full record

ArticleEClinicalMedicine2026

The global cancer mental health survey: insights from patient and provider experiences on psychosocial care access.

Juan P Borda, Gilla K Shapiro, William E Rosa, Cristiane Bergerot, Loreto Fernández González, Wendy W T Lam, Anja Mehnert-Theuerkauf, M Jean Jackson, Julia Maues, Surendran Veeraiah and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in EClinicalMedicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Juan P BordaDepartment of Psychiatry, Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Gilla K ShapiroDepartment of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.
William E RosaDepartment of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, USA.
Cristiane BergerotOncoclinicas & Co - Medica Scientia Innovation Research (MEDSIR), Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Loreto Fernández GonzálezCancer Research Department, Instituto Oncológico Fundación Arturo López Perez, Chile.
Wendy W T LamSchool of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Anja Mehnert-TheuerkaufDepartment of Medical Psychology and Medical Sociology, University of Leipzig Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany.
M Jean JacksonFaculty of Theology, Huron University College, Western University, London, ON, Canada.
Julia MauesPatient Advocate, GRASP (Guiding Researchers and Advocates to Scientific Partnerships), Washington, DC, USA.
Surendran VeeraiahDepartment of Psycho-Oncology & RCTC, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India.
Chioma AsuzuDepartment of Counselling & Human Development Studies, University of Ibadan, Nigeria.
Cara MacInnisDepartment of Psychology, Acadia University, Wolville, NS, Canada.
Madeline LiDepartment of Supportive Care, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, Canada.

Funding

X-RAY CRYSTALLOGRAPHYP30CA008748 · NCI · SLOAN-KETTERING INSTITUTE FOR CANCER RES · PI SELWYN M VICKERS · 1985 to 2026
$347.4M
NCI NIH HHS P30 CA008748
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Psychosocial oncology (PSO) is essential to comprehensive cancer care, yet access and delivery remain inconsistent and inadequate globally. This study mapped patient- and provider-reported experiences of barriers shaping PSO access globally. Methods: Cross-sectional, web-based surveys were administered separately to adults with a self-reported cancer diagnosis and to oncology healthcare providers (HCPs) in five languages between November 12, 2024 and April 25, 2025. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regressions examined associations between sociodemographic and clinical factors with PSO access, perceptions, and delivery. Findings: The final sample included 200 patients from 16 countries and 237 HCPs from 38 countries. Among patients, 85.0% rated PSO care as highly important, with 81.0% considering it as important as biomedical care, yet 63.5% reported receiving no PSO care. Among HCPs, 53.2% indicated PSO is not routinely provided at their institutions. Mental health stigma and cultural norms affecting comfort discussing emotional concerns were commonly reported barriers, reported by 57.0% and 64.0% of patients, respectively, and 52.7% and 74.3% of HCPs. Workforce and training gaps were substantial, with 66.6% of HCPs reporting insufficient specialized staff, and 42.1% reporting no formal training in PSO. Investment in PSO research was perceived as low, with 60.3% of HCPs estimating that <10% of national cancer research funding was allocated to PSO and 69.6% viewing overall research support as insufficient. Interpretation: Patients and providers emphasized the importance of PSO; however, PSO was reported to be under-delivered worldwide due to stigma, cultural factors, workforce and training limitations, and insufficient research investment. System-level strategies are needed to address these challenges and close the global PSO care gap. Funding: This study was supported by a seed grant from the Global Institute of Psychosocial, Palliative and End-of-Life Care (GIPPEC), Toronto, Canada.

Indexed as

Access to careCancer careGlobal healthHealth system barriersMental healthPsychosocial carePsychosocial oncologyStigmaSupportive care

Identifiers

PMID42472281
PMCPMC13380114

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.