Evaluating supportive cancer care: are we missing an opportunity?
BACKGROUND
Cancer care can be described as a system or complex network of interventions delivered at various times and places with different intentions.
Cancer care can include medical treatments, psychosocial care, complementary and alternative medicine, self-care, as well as the process of healing and the context in which care is delivered.
Whereas evaluating individual cancer treatments can be difficult, evaluating cancer care is even more challenging and requires a research framework that relies on methodologies capable of addressing its holistic, individualized, and complex nature.


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that research frameworks focused on studying complex or whole systems are a promising evaluation approach and an opportunity for further exploration.
Verhoef
Marja
M
Weeks
Laura
L
Brazier
Alison
A
Leis
Anne
A
D002170:Canada; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care; D011787:Quality of Health Care