TY - JOUR
T1 - Exploring global barriers to optimal ovarian cancer care
T2 - thematic analysis
AU - Sfeir, Selina
AU - Allen, Lucy
AU - Algera, Marc Daniel
AU - Morton, Rhett
AU - Farrell, Rhonda
AU - Brennan, Donal
AU - Driel, Willemien J. van
AU - Rijken, Marcus J.
AU - Eiken, Mary
AU - Sundar, Sudha S.
AU - Coleman, Robert L.
AU - collaborators of the Global Equality in Ovarian Cancer Care project group
PY - 2024/9/2
Y1 - 2024/9/2
N2 - Objective To explore the barriers to ovarian cancer care, as reported in the open ended responses of a global expert opinion survey, highlighting areas for improvement in global ovarian cancer care. Potential solutions to overcome these barriers are proposed.Methods Data from the expert opinion survey, designed to assess the organization of ovarian cancer care worldwide, were analyzed. The survey was distributed across a global network of physicians. We examined free text, open ended responses concerning the barriers to ovarian cancer care. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted to identify, analyze, and report meaningful patterns within the data.Results A total of 1059 physicians from 115 countries completed the survey, with 438 physicians from 93 countries commenting on the barriers to ovarian cancer care. Thematic analysis gave five major themes, regardless of income category or location: societal factors, inadequate resources in hospital, economic barriers, organization of the specialty, and need for early detection. Suggested solutions include accessible resource stratified guidelines, multidisciplinary teamwork, public education, and development of gynecological oncology training pathways internationally.Conclusions This analysis provides an international perspective on the main barriers to optimal ovarian cancer care. The themes derived from our analysis highlight key target areas to focus efforts to reduce inequalities in global care. Future regional analysis involving local representatives will enable country specific recommendations to improve the quality of care and ultimately to work towards closing the care gap.
AB - Objective To explore the barriers to ovarian cancer care, as reported in the open ended responses of a global expert opinion survey, highlighting areas for improvement in global ovarian cancer care. Potential solutions to overcome these barriers are proposed.Methods Data from the expert opinion survey, designed to assess the organization of ovarian cancer care worldwide, were analyzed. The survey was distributed across a global network of physicians. We examined free text, open ended responses concerning the barriers to ovarian cancer care. A qualitative thematic analysis was conducted to identify, analyze, and report meaningful patterns within the data.Results A total of 1059 physicians from 115 countries completed the survey, with 438 physicians from 93 countries commenting on the barriers to ovarian cancer care. Thematic analysis gave five major themes, regardless of income category or location: societal factors, inadequate resources in hospital, economic barriers, organization of the specialty, and need for early detection. Suggested solutions include accessible resource stratified guidelines, multidisciplinary teamwork, public education, and development of gynecological oncology training pathways internationally.Conclusions This analysis provides an international perspective on the main barriers to optimal ovarian cancer care. The themes derived from our analysis highlight key target areas to focus efforts to reduce inequalities in global care. Future regional analysis involving local representatives will enable country specific recommendations to improve the quality of care and ultimately to work towards closing the care gap.
KW - Ovarian Cancer
KW - SURVIVAL
KW - CHALLENGES
KW - TRENDS
U2 - 10.1136/ijgc-2024-005449
DO - 10.1136/ijgc-2024-005449
M3 - Article
SN - 1048-891X
VL - 34
SP - 1408
EP - 1415
JO - International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
JF - International Journal of Gynecological Cancer
IS - 9
ER -