Journal of Cancer Policy最新文献

{"title":"INSTITUTIONAL PRACTICES FOR CANCER: COMPARISON OF SOCIAL AND HEALTH CARE ALONG DISEASE TRAJECTORY IN FIVE COUNTRIES WITH HIGH SURVIVAL RATES.","authors":"Carla Calderón-Figueroa, Alondra Castillo-Delgado, Lorena Rodriguez-Osiac, Enrique A Castellón, Klaus Puschel, Óscar Arteaga, Alejandra Fuentes-García","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100733","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100733","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Aim: </strong>This article analyses the institutional practices that shape socio-health care for cancer along the disease trajectory-from screening to survivorship-in five countries with the highest cancer survival rates: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Costa Rica, and Japan.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Drawing on social practice theory, the study applies a critical documentary analysis of 115 institutional and scientific sources, including national cancer plans, legislation, and clinical guidelines, to examine how material elements, practical knowledge, and shared meanings are articulated in policy and practice.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Findings reveal consistent patterns across the five high-survival countries, including the strong institutionalisation of screening programmes, continuous strengthening of diagnostic infrastructure, and establishment of interdisciplinary teams. However, significant challenges persist in addressing territorial inequalities, ensuring equitable access, and protecting patients from out-of-pocket costs associated with innovative therapies. Japan is distinguished by its population-based endoscopic screening for gastric cancer, while Australia and Canada lead in culturally adapted, community-based approaches. Costa Rica shows partial implementation through regional pilots, and Belgium displays high diagnostic and therapeutic integration with European networks. Psychosocial, financial, and legal support emerge as indispensable dimensions for achieving equitable and comprehensive cancer care. Non-governmental organisations and community networks play a central role in providing counselling, subsidies, and reintegration support, although their reach varies across contexts. Overall, the study underscores that biomedical innovation alone is insufficient: cancer survival depends on the effective coordination of biomedical, social, cultural, and legal policies within integrated socio-health care systems that prioritise equity and quality of life as key pillars of public cancer policy. In high-performing systems, survivorship is not merely the result of clinical coverage but emerges from an institutional ecosystem that bridges biological recovery and social citizenship.</p>","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":" ","pages":"100733"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147505217","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring elements of governance in the development and implementation of national cancer control plans.","authors":"Douglas M Puricelli Perin, Mishka Kohli Cira, Xolisile Dlamini, Venus Mushininga, Annet Nakaganda, Suraj Perera, Yannick Romero, Zuzanna Tittenbrun, Kalina Duncan","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100732","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100732","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Governance is an essential component of effective national cancer control plan (NCCP) development and implementation and this study aims to describe how and the extent to which governance is defined and outlined in NCCPs. It utilizes data from a global review of 98 NCCPs in 2023 conducted by 77 experts in cancer control planning using a 95-question form that examines components of NCCP development and implementation. To assess the governance elements represented in NCCPs, we used the Health Policy Triangle (HPT) framework, categorizing questions and developing a score based on its four components: content, context, actors, and mechanisms. Strengths were identified in the adequate involvement of several actors in NCCP development and implementation, such as Ministries of Health, and in appropriate mechanisms for NCCP governance, such as information about who is responsible for plan implementation. However, the inclusion of global cancer control targets and initiatives was often lacking. Overall governance scores were poor, but some variability was observed across WHO regions and country income levels. NCCPs from countries within the WHO Regional Office for Africa and low-income countries presented the highest scores across all four components. The HPT provides a framework to assess NCCPs and may pave the way for the development of further guidance regarding the governance of NCCPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":" ","pages":"100732"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147494627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Retraction notice to \"Evidence on vaping e-cigarettes as a risk factor for cancer: A systematic review\" [J. Cancer Policy 45C (2025) 100615].","authors":"Guilherme Guedes de Oliveira, Rebeca Milka Lemos Magalhães Liberato, Amaxsell Thiago Barros de Souza, Ayane Cristine Alves Sarmento, Edilmar de Moura Santos, Kleyton Santos de Medeiros, Irami Araújo Filho","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100734","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100734","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":" ","pages":"100734"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147487804","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Population-Based Cancer Screening analysis in Northern Portugal Using Process Mining","authors":"Hugo Monteiro ,&nbsp;Mariana Oliveira ,&nbsp;Ricardo Martinho ,&nbsp;João Reis ,&nbsp;Fernando Tavares ,&nbsp;Óscar Felgueiras ,&nbsp;Carlos Martins","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100702","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100702","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>This study focuses on the Colorectal Cancer Screening Program in Northern Portugal, aiming to evaluate the disruption effects on its performance and efficiency.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted an observational analyses of 271 637 administrative records from 2020 to 2022. Administrative timestamps were converted into a step-by-step dataset of screening activities (an “event log”) and analysed using process mining and comparative performance analysis across time periods and ACeS (primary care administrative clusters).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Consultation‑to‑colonoscopy time lengthened by 53 %, rising from a median 58 days (IQR 29–92) in early 2020 to 89 days (IQR 53–127) in 2021, before improving to 73 days in 2022. Conversely, referral‑to‑consultation time fell from 110 days to 26 days (−76 %), reflecting targeted backlog clearance. Screening volumes declined in 2020 but recovered above baseline levels by 2022. Performance differences across primary care administrative clusters were significant (p &lt; 0.001), with some units outperforming regional median transition times. Early adoption of automated electronic referrals and flexible consultation scheduling may have contributed to improved programme performance during the recovery period following pandemic-related disruptions. Substantial heterogeneity across units was observed for key transitions, indicating uneven disruption and recovery patterns across administrative units.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Process Mining techniques revealed critical vulnerabilities in the screening program during the initial stages of the period in analysis (matching the pandemic). These findings support targeted monitoring and prioritisation of operational improvements to reduce avoidable delays and strengthen continuity of population-based screening.</div></div><div><h3>Policy summary</h3><div>Policies aimed at strengthening healthcare service continuity and operational capacity benefit from analytical methods like process mining. Key recommendations include standardizing workflows, enhancing coordination between primary care and hospital services, and investing in digital monitoring systems to mitigate disruptions and ensure continuity in cancer screening programs during periods of system stress.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100702"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145918884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Defining the role and competencies of the medical oncologist in diagnostic and therapeutic care pathways: Consensus recommendations from the Italian association of medical oncology (AIOM)","authors":"Rossana Berardi ,&nbsp;Francesca Rossi ,&nbsp;Valentina Tarantino ,&nbsp;Michele De Tursi ,&nbsp;Angelo Dinota ,&nbsp;Giancarlo Di Pinto ,&nbsp;Roberto Bianco ,&nbsp;Francesco Leonardi ,&nbsp;Alessandra Bearz ,&nbsp;Alessandra Fabi ,&nbsp;Alessandro Pastorino ,&nbsp;Franco Nolè ,&nbsp;Paolo Alessandroni ,&nbsp;Francesco Carrozza ,&nbsp;Lucio Buffoni ,&nbsp;Tiziana Latiano ,&nbsp;Daniele Farci ,&nbsp;Massimiliano Spada ,&nbsp;Carmelo Bengala ,&nbsp;Stefania Kinspergher ,&nbsp;Roberto Papa","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100701","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100701","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Diagnostic and Therapeutic Care Pathways (DTCPs) are clinical governance tools aimed at managing the care of specific patient populations through the coordinated application of standardized, evidence-based interventions by multidisciplinary teams. Their primary goal is to ensure equitable, timely, and cost-effective access to high-quality care.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and method</h3><div>A panel of recognized opinion leaders, endorsed by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), was convened to develop a consensus document defining the role of the medical oncologist within Multidisciplinary Oncology Groups (MOGs) and DTCPs. Employing the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method in its “consensus conference” format, the panel evaluated a series of statements derived from a review of the scientific literature and expert-generated Good Practice Points (GPPs). These statements addressed five key areas.<ul><li><span>1.</span><span><div>Skills of the Oncologist in the diagnostic phase</div></span></li></ul></div><div><ul><li><span>2.</span><span><div>Follow up</div></span></li></ul><ul><li><span>3.</span><span><div>Palliative care</div></span></li></ul></div><div><ul><li><span>4.</span><span><div>Management of the diagnostic and therapeutic care pathway of the oncological patient</div></span></li></ul><ul><li><span>5.</span><span><div>Medical therapy.</div></span></li></ul></div><div>To further support each topic, illustrative case studies were presented.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>A total of 21 articles met the inclusion criteria, yielding 88 evidence-based recommendations. Additionally, panel members contributed 9 further GPPs based on clinical expertise. Of the 97 total recommendations, 95 received a relevance score above 7, while 2 scored between 4 and 6.9; none scored below 4.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>This consensus effort and the resulting document represent a comprehensive evaluation of the available evidence regarding the role of medical oncologists within MOGs and DTCPs. The objective is to propose standardized criteria for the optimal management of cancer patients (pts) across all phases of care from initial diagnosis and staging to treatment, follow-up, and end-of-life support.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100701"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145977401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Inpatient mortality and failure to rescue in lung cancer patients by hospital certification status: Cross-sectional analysis of nationwide german discharge data 2014–2023","authors":"Leonie Meyer ,&nbsp;Christoph Kowalski ,&nbsp;Martin Utzig ,&nbsp;Philipp Hengel","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100715","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2026.100715","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in Germany. Certification of lung cancer centers aims to improve quality of care primarily by adhering to evidence-based guidelines and minimum case volume requirements. However, the number of procedures is also a part of nationwide requirements. This study examines the association between certification status and outcomes for lung cancer patients undergoing anatomical lung resections in Germany between 2014 and 2023 while adjusting for hospital case volume (based on lung cancer resections) and patient characteristics.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Nationwide Diagnosis-Related Groups data were linked with certification data from the German Cancer Society. Generalized logit regression models adjusted for age, sex, comorbidities, and hospital case volume were used to estimate in-hospital mortality and failure to rescue rates along with the corresponding 95 % confidence intervals. For each year, two separate analyses were conducted: one adjusting for patient characteristics only, and another additionally adjusting for hospital caseload.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Adjusted analyses showed a trend of lower in-hospital mortality and failure to rescue rates in certified centers, both with and without adjustment for hospital case volume. However, statistical significance was observed only in the years 2020 and 2021, and only when case volume per hospital was not included as a covariate.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>While certified centers demonstrated lower in-hospital mortality and failure to rescue rates in specific years, including hospital case volume as a covariate reduced the magnitude of the differences between certified and non-certified hospitals. These results suggest that certification status and hospital case volume interact in complex ways, underscoring the need for further investigation into their independent and combined effects on patient outcomes.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100715"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147310909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quality improvement initiatives on colposcopy and treatment of cervical pre-cancer services in Bhutan: Experiences, challenges, and way forward","authors":"Namkha Dorji,&nbsp;Thinley Dorji,&nbsp;Yeshey Dorjey,&nbsp;Yangdon Yangdon","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100676","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100676","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bhutan has achieved 90–70–90 global targets by 2023, way ahead of the global targets of elimination of cervical cancer by 2030. However, cervical cancer remains the most prevalent cancer, among women in Bhutan. While all healthcare screening, diagnosis and treatment of cervical cancers are provided free of cost, sustainability in terms of financing and human resources and ensuring quality of services are the major challenges. Development of a national standard guideline is a major intervention towards improving the quality of colposcopy services and treatment of precancer in the country. In this article, we discuss the summary of the consensus-based practical guideline on colposcopy and treatment of cervical pre-cancers in Bhutan, challenges faced and potential way forward.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100676"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145685016","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ethnic disparities in breast cancer outcomes in Europe: Data gaps and policy recommendations","authors":"Ariwan Saeed ,&nbsp;Bamo Muhsin ,&nbsp;Nyan Osman Saeed ,&nbsp;Shwan Ali ,&nbsp;Jalil Salih ,&nbsp;Mohammed Khalid Mahmood ,&nbsp;Karzan Murad ,&nbsp;Shkar Othman Arif ,&nbsp;Kamaran Ahmed ,&nbsp;Sazgar Star ,&nbsp;Hawbir Ahmed ,&nbsp;Lana H. Baba Haji ,&nbsp;Basak Barzngy","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100691","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100691"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147394100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Quality of life in patients with advanced cancer: Critical evaluation of EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL and FACIT-PAL-14 in prospective studies","authors":"Paula Tur ,&nbsp;Eva Oldenburger ,&nbsp;Andrew Bottomley ,&nbsp;David Cella ,&nbsp;Shing Fung Lee ,&nbsp;Adrian W. Chan ,&nbsp;Gustavo Nader Marta ,&nbsp;Timothy Jacobs ,&nbsp;Edward Chow ,&nbsp;Henry C.Y. Wong ,&nbsp;Agata Rembielak","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100692","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100692","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100692"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147394337","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Understanding the development process of national cancer control plans in low- and middle-income countries","authors":"Linsey Eldridge ,&nbsp;Amina Chtourou ,&nbsp;Kalina Duncan ,&nbsp;Leslie Given ,&nbsp;Sana Haider ,&nbsp;Karin Hohman ,&nbsp;Douglas M. Puricelli Perin ,&nbsp;Yannick Romero ,&nbsp;Zuzanna Tittenbrun ,&nbsp;Mishka Kohli Cira","doi":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100670","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcpo.2025.100670","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>As cancer incidence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) continues to rise, the development of National Cancer Control Plans (NCCP) has become an essential policy tool for guiding a comprehensive and coordinated response. The NCCP Development Research Initiative (NCCP DRIVE) is a qualitative study led by the International Cancer Control Partnership (ICCP) to understand the NCCP development process and contextual factors that may enable or impede effective NCCP development.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>In-depth interviews were conducted with country-level cancer planners in nine countries (seven African, two South Asian) within the ICCP network. Transcripts were recorded, transcribed, and double-coded in Dedoose, then analyzed thematically using the Health Policy Triangle (HPT) framework.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Findings highlight that NCCP development is dynamic and iterative, following six commonly reported phases: Initiation, Formulation, Negotiation, Communication, Implementation, and Monitoring/Evaluation. Common challenges reported by respondents included limited financial and human resources, competing priorities, fragmented health systems, and inadequate data. These constraints led to compressed timelines, overlapping planning activities, and gaps in costing and implementation plans. To address these challenges, respondents employed various strategies, including integrating cancer control efforts with existing health programs, engaging multisector actors, building political will, and securing technical assistance (TA) from partners. Building partnerships was pivotal, helping to set priorities, align plans with national and global agendas, and leverage resources. However, some respondents reported misaligned timelines and priorities, and coordination challenges.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>This study contributes a policy framework-informed, implementation-focused analysis of NCCP development, offering practical insights into how countries navigate complex challenges to initiate and sustain cancer control planning. Findings underscore the need for flexible TA models and stronger data systems, and the value of integrating cancer control priorities within existing health systems. Understanding these dynamics from initiation to implementation offers practical insights for countries at various stages of development, and for partners providing technical assistance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":38212,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Cancer Policy","volume":"47 ","pages":"Article 100670"},"PeriodicalIF":2.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145670139","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}