Unveiling disparities in cancer care: a comparative study… : Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice
ty is often set by health care professionals’ (HCPs’) evaluation about the adequacy of services and programs to meet their patients’ needs. Thus, this study aimed to compare the perspectives of HCPs from LMICs versus HICs on the availability of supportive care services for patients with cancer and survivors (Aim 1). In addition, the study examined differences in service provision across four major age groups (Aim 2) and identified the types of services offered (Aim 3). Methods: Secondary analysis was conducted using the International Psycho-Oncology Society (IPOS) Survivorship Online Survey, targeting HCPs involved in clinical services and research with patients with cancer and survivors worldwide. The data from 177 (81 from LMICs and 96 from HICs) participants were subjected to subsequent analysis. Chi-squared tests were used to compare the availability of services for each of the 13 types of unmet needs overall and across four age groups and the types of services provided between LMI
