Evaluating supportive cancer care: are we missing an opportunity?

INTRODUCTION: Cancer care can be described as a system or complex network of interventions delivered at various times and places with different intentions. CANCER CARE AS A SYSTEM: 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. EVALUATING CANCER CARE: 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. IN
SUMMARY: We suggest that research frameworks focused on studying complex or whole systems are a promising evaluation approach and an opportunity for further exploration.