Operationalizing Patient-Centered Care: A Conceptual Framework for Comprehensive Cancer Care Networks (Preprint)

BACKGROUND In contemporary healthcare, patient-centered care has emerged as a pivotal paradigm shift that redefines the traditional physician-centric model. Particularly in the context of cancer care, marked by its intricate nature and emotional impact, there's a pressing requirement to rethink how healthcare is delivered. In this context, Comprehensive Cancer Care Networks (CCCNs) provide a new means of structuring and delivering quality cancer care, recognizing each patient's unique preferences and needs. OBJECTIVE To facilitate this patient-centered approach in practice and advance care quality, the objective of this paper was to establish a consistent definition and framework of patient-centeredness in a CCCN. METHODS A systematic meta-review focusing on generic and oncology-specific dimensions of patient-centeredness, a survey with key stakeholders in CCCNs, and a focus group with patient representatives were conducted. RESULTS A definition and framework of patient-centeredness in CCCNs are presented. The framework comprises eight primary dimensions: Empowering Patients, Engaging and Involving Patients, Treating the Patient as a Unique Person, Enhancing the Therapeutic Relationship, Enhancing a Patient-Centered Culture, Providing Holistic and Specialized Care, Recognizing and Supporting the Healthcare Professional as a Person, and Coordinating Care. Corresponding subdimensions and actionable patient-centered activities support each dimension. CONCLUSIONS The results provide a comprehensive perspective on the complex elements that compose patient-centered care within CCCNs. This contributes to a better understanding and application of patient-centeredness in CCCNs and possibly other contexts. The results presented in this paper aspire to support CCCNs and other healthcare contexts in creating a patient-centered environment where patients feel genuinely heard, valued, and actively engaged in their care decisions. CLINICALTRIAL Not applicable.