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IntroductionCancer remains a major global health challenge, affecting millions annually and ranking as the second leading cause of death worldwide. The complexity of cancer treatment requires an interdisciplinary approach, connecting professionals from various fields to deliver personalised and integrated care. However, structural issues and insufficient interdisciplinary training can impede effective collaboration, which is why effective interprofessional education (IPE) is needed. This protocol depicts the planned procedures for a scoping review that aims to explore the role of IPE in enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration within oncology by mapping and synthesising the implementation, impact and evaluation strategies of patient-centred IPE programmes.Methods and analysisThis scoping review will be conducted in line with the Joanna Briggs Institute guidelines for scoping reviews. The research team will develop a comprehensive search strategy and apply it to the following databases: CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus and Web of Science . Additionally, we will search for grey literature (eg, using OpenDOAR) and contact relevant organisations for pertinent reports. Each database will be searched without date restrictions on 11 September 2024. In the first stage, eligibility criteria will be assessed through a blinded title and abstract screening, followed by a full-text review. The research team will then extract and synthesise data related to the scoping review questions, focusing on implementation, impact and evaluation strategies employed in the included studies.Ethics and disseminationAs this protocol does not involve collecting primary data, ethical approval is not required. The results of this review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and disseminated through institutional websites and conferences.

Background Cancer remains a critical global health issue requiring a comprehensive interdisciplinary approach for effective treatment. Interprofessional education (IPE) is essential for overcoming barriers to collaboration among healthcare professionals and fostering efficient teamwork in cancer care. Objective This systematic scoping review aims to explore the role of IPE in enhancing interprofessional collaboration within cancer care by mapping and synthesizing the implementation, impact, and evaluation strategies of patient-centered IPE programs in this field. Methods A comprehensive search was conducted across seven databases, including CENTRAL, CINAHL, Embase, MEDLINE, PsycInfo, Scopus, and Web of Science, from their inception to January 2024. Grey literature was also sought through online sources and by contacting relevant organizations. Data were extracted and synthesized narratively following a standardized protocol. Results Seven studies met the inclusion criteria, highlighting various educational methods such as web-based platforms, face-to-face interactions, experiential learning, and simulation-based training. Patient-centered IPE programs notably improved interprofessional collaboration, communication, knowledge, and self-confidence among healthcare professionals. Additionally, several programs led to concrete changes in clinical practice and institutional policies. Evaluation strategies primarily utilized established frameworks such as Kirkpatrick’s model and Moore’s outcome levels to assess multiple layers of outcomes, including participant satisfaction, knowledge acquisition, competence, and behavior change. Conclusions The findings indicate that patient-centered IPE programs effectively promote interprofessional collaboration and enhance clinical competencies in cancer care. Future research should focus on long-term evaluations, address systemic barriers, expand geographical scope, and utilize standardized evaluation frameworks to further improve the design and implementation of patient-centered IPE programs in cancer care.

Background The use of psychoactive substances is a key public health issue due to its impact on mental, physical, and social health. Integrated drug checking is a well-known harm reduction and addiction prevention measure and is currently implemented in four federal states in Austria. The aim of this study is to investigate the prevalence of drug checking use among a web-survey sample of people who use drugs (PWUD) in Austria and to examine differences in socio-demographic and substance use characteristics between individuals with and without drug checking experience. In addition, reasons for not using these services are explored. Methods A secondary data analysis of the Austrian data from the European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD), a targeted survey conducted between March and May 2021 was performed. Based on reported drug checking experience, the data set was divided into two groups - those with and without drug checking experience – and compared. Results In this web-survey sample of PWUD ( n  = 1113), 20.1% reported prior use of a drug checking service in Austria. The groups with drug checking experience ( n  = 224) and those without ( n  = 889) differed significantly in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Univariate analysis revealed significant differences in terms of age, household composition, highest level of education, employment status, region of residence, substance use prevalences and treatment experience. Participants who used cannabis only had significantly less experience with drug checking. No significant differences were found regarding gender and income. While logistic regression analysis showed a significant relationship between sociodemographic predictors and drug checking experience, this relationship was relatively weak. The main reasons for not having used the services yet included a high level of trust in the source of supply (68%), confidence in receiving high quality of substances (64%), and a lack of service availability near the place of residence (62%). Conclusions The results indicate that drug checking services are well-accepted and trusted but not equally accessed by and accessible to all PWUD. Specifically, people who use only cannabis and those residing with parents or in rural or small-town areas access services less. In conclusion, there is considerable potential for expanding the availability and accessibility of drug checking services in Austria, particularly to reach underserved groups of PWUD who could benefit from this intervention.

Coherence across sites in multicenter datasets is one substantial data quality dimension for reliable health data reuse, as unexpected heterogeneity in data can lead to biases in data analyses and suboptimal generalization of results. This work aims to characterize and label the data coherence across sites in the first European multicenter dataset for cancer prevention in people and early detection among the homeless population in Europe: coadapting and implementing the health navigator model. This dataset emerged to enable research to address disparities in health challenges and health care access due to barriers such as unstable housing, limited resources, and social stigma in people experiencing homelessness. The dataset comprises 652 cases: 142 from Austria, 158 from Greece, 197 from Spain, and 155 from the United Kingdom. All participants fit classifications from the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion. This longitudinal study collected questionnaires at baseline, after 4 weeks, and at the end of the intervention. The 180-question survey covered sociodemographic data, overall health, mental health, empowerment, and interpersonal communication. Data variability was assessed using information theory and geometric methods to analyze discrepancies in distributions and completeness across the dataset. Substantial variability was observed among the 4 pilot countries, both in the overall analysis and within specific domains. In particular, measures of health care empowerment, quality of life, and interpersonal communication demonstrated the greatest discrepancies among pilot sites, with the exception of the health domain. Notably, Spain exhibited the most pronounced differences, characterized by a high number of missing values related to interpersonal communication and the use of health care services. Health data may be comparable across the 4 countries; however, substantial differences were observed in the other questionnaires, requiring independent, country-specific analyses. This study underscores the heterogeneity among people experiencing homelessness and the critical need for data quality assessments to inform future research and policymaking in this field.

Background: People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face significant health disparities and systemic barriers to healthcare, elevating their risk for cancer and other chronic diseases. To tackle PEHs’ challenges in accessing cancer preventive care, the CANCERLESS project implemented the Health Navigator Model (HNM)—a person-centered intervention that utilizes trained Health Navigators to provide tailored support and facilitate service access. Recognizing housing as a key determinant of health, this analysis assessed changes in housing status associated with participation in the HNM among CANCERLESS participants in Austria, Greece, Spain, and the UK. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of cross-national data collected during a single-arm interventional study. Of 652 enrolled PEH, 277 (42.5%) completed the HNM intervention follow-up and were included in the analysis. Changes in housing status from baseline to follow-up were categorized using the European Typology of Homelessness and Housing Exclusion (ETHOS) and treated as an ordered outcome. Descriptive statistics were complemented by a cumulative link mixed model with a participant random intercept to estimate the association between time (follow-up vs. baseline) and housing transitions among completers, adjusting for age, residence/legal status, and daily smoking. Results: Participants had a mean age of 47.4 (SD 13.8), primarily identified as male (64.1%), reported upper secondary education (33.9%), and were from Western European countries (39.7%), with varying housing situations. Among intervention completers, time (follow-up vs. baseline) was associated with higher odds of being in a higher ETHOS category (OR = 1.49, 95% CI = 1.02–2.20, p = 0.042), consistent with a modest improvement in housing status. Larger estimates were observed among migrants without legal documents (OR = 24.13, 95% CI = 6.41–90.89, p < 0.001), while daily smoking was associated with lower odds (OR = 0.33, 95% CI = 0.11–0.96, p = 0.041); other residence status categories were not statistically significant. Conclusions: Suggesting that tailored, navigation-based models, such as the HNM, may be linked to improved housing stability for PEH, these findings can inform piloting and context-aligned integration of the HNM within public health strategies as an alternative approach to address the complex, interconnected health and social needs of PEH. However, the lack of a comparison group and high attrition limit the results’ conclusiveness, and future evaluations should aim to include assessments of housing-associated contextual factors.

Advance care planning (ACP) is a critical process for ensuring person-centred end-of-life care, yet it remains underutilized among people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Understanding caregivers' perspectives is essential to identify barriers and facilitators to ACP implementation and improve practice. This study aimed to examine how professional caregivers in Austria perceive and experience ACP for people with ID, including its current use, barriers, facilitators, and strategies to improve uptake. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a structured online form comprising multiple-choice and open-ended questions. Data were collected from 125 professional caregivers across Austria who were primary caregivers of at least one adult with ID and proficient in German. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively, while qualitative responses to open-ended questions were subjected to content analysis. A total of 33.6% of caregivers reported engaging in ACP discussions, with considerable barriers including cognitive and communicative challenges, emotional discomfort, and structural constraints. Facilitators included person-centred communication, interdisciplinary collaboration, and targeted training. Notably, 83.2% of caregivers expressed interest in ACP training. ACP is rarely practiced in the care of people with ID in Austria. However, caregivers identified clear pathways to improve implementation, particularly through training, use of tailored communication methods, and systemic support within care institutions. Promoting inclusive ACP practices is essential to uphold the autonomy and health equity of people with ID, ensuring their voices are heard in decisions about their future and end-of-life care.

People experiencing homelessness (PEH) face major barriers to accessing healthcare, including cancer preventive services, which results in increased cancer morbidity and mortality. However, tailored integrated care interventions addressing these disparities are scarce. Using a qualitative, participatory approach, seven focus group discussions were conducted with 15 PEH and 41 health and social care professionals in Austria, Greece, Spain, and the UK. Data were thematically analysed using a framework based on ten core components of navigation interventions. Collaborative discussions led to a consensus on the Health Navigator Model (HNM), designed to improve cancer prevention for PEH. This model introduces \"health navigators\" from health and social care backgrounds to identify health needs, raise cancer awareness, coordinate healthcare access, and provide practical support. Thematic analysis ensured consistency across countries, shaping a person-centred approach. Comprehensive training and supervision were identified as critical for the effectiveness of the HNM. The co-design approach allowed PEH and professionals to actively shape the intervention, addressing gaps in cancer prevention. The HNM offers a structured, internationally consistent model that could bridge access gaps in cancer care for PEH. Further research using implementation science frameworks is needed to evaluate its effectiveness in real-world settings.