Brain tumor care gaps revealed: Doctors identify barriers to supporting patients and families
Healthcare providers treating aggressive brain tumors struggle with fragmented care systems that leave patients and caregivers with unmet needs throughout treatment. A new study of 44 clinicians across hospitals and local services pinpoints specific collaboration breakdowns—findings that could reshape how cancer care systems are organized and funded.
Originaltitel: Improving quality of care for patients with high-grade glioma and their informal caregivers: Insights from focus groups with healthcare professionals.
Höggradig gliom—vårdsamordning är flaskhalsen. Svenska forskare från Sahlgrenska Academy kartlade vad som hindrar och möjliggör bättre vård genom en fokusgruppsstudie med 44 sjukvårdspersonal från fyra regionsjukhus och kommunal äldreomsorg. Resultaten pekar på två kritiska brister: bristande samordning mellan vårdnivåer samt otillräcklig kommunikation kring patientens kognitiva försämring och långsiktiga behov. Informella vårdgivare—ofta anhöriga—saknar förberedelse på sjukdomstraktorns följder. Studien rekommenderar tvärsektoriell samverkan, förbättrad handöverrutin mellan region och kommun samt strukturerad patientutbildning om framtida stödbehov. För regionchefer och inköpare betyder detta att befintliga IT-system och kommunikationsprotokoll kräver justering för att säkerställa kontinuerlig vård. Kognitiva symtom måste också vägas in vid resursbeslut i palliativ och neurologisk vård.
BACKGROUND: There is a concerning prevalence of unmet needs affecting both patients with high-grade glioma and their informal caregivers. By exploring the experiences and attitudes of healthcare professionals (HCPs) in regional and municipal services, this study aims to identify barriers and enablers in improving the quality of care for patients with high-grade glioma and their informal caregivers through the disease trajectory. METHODS: A qualitative approach using focus group interviews was employed, involving HCPs across healthcare levels. The interviews, conducted physically and digitally from November 2024 to March 2025, followed semi-structured guides. The inclusion criteria were HCPs with direct experience in caring for patients with high-grade glioma or those who were in contact with their informal caregivers. The data was analyzed using inductive qualitative content analysis. RESULTS: A total of 12 interviews were conducted with 44 HCPs. The sample included 35 (79%) participants from 4 regional hospitals and 9 (21%) participants from municipal healthcare services. Two categories were derived from the data: CONCLUSIONS: The study underscores the need for collaboration and better communication strategies across healthcare services, together with comprehensive patient and informal caregiver education on the potential future needs associated with the patients' health trajectory. Also, the study shows that a better understanding of the consequences of cognitive impairments are critical steps towards enhancing care effectiveness.