Identifying components of care coordination for primary brain tumor: A scoping review

Megan S Jeon; Hannah Banks; Sharon He; Thomas Carlick; Joanne M Shaw; Brian Kelly; Eng-Siew Koh; Georgia K B Halkett; Tamara Ownsworth; Raymond J Chan; Mark B Pinkham; Ursula M Sansom-Daly; Haryana M Dhillon; BRAINS Investigator Group

doi:10.1093/nop/npaf003

Identifying components of care coordination for primary brain tumor: A scoping review

Neurooncol Pract. 2025 Jan 9;12(3):357-375. doi: 10.1093/nop/npaf003. eCollection 2025 Jun.

Authors

Megan S Jeon¹, Hannah Banks¹, Sharon He¹, Thomas Carlick¹, Joanne M Shaw¹, Brian Kelly², Eng-Siew Koh^{3

4}, Georgia K B Halkett⁵, Tamara Ownsworth⁶, Raymond J Chan⁷, Mark B Pinkham^{8

9}, Ursula M Sansom-Daly^{10

11

12}, Haryana M Dhillon¹; BRAINS Investigator Group

Affiliations

¹ Psycho-Oncology Cooperative Research Group (PoCoG), School of Psychology, Faculty of Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
² School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle (UON), Callaghan, NSW, Australia.
³ South West Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
⁴ Liverpool Cancer Centre, Liverpool Hospital, South Western Sydney Local Health District, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
⁵ Curtin School of Nursing/Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute (CHIRI), Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia.
⁶ The Hopkins Centre, School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.
⁷ Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford, SA, Australia.
⁸ Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Behavioural Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, Australia.
⁹ Department of Radiation Oncology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia.
¹⁰ Sydney Youth Cancer Service, Nelune Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
¹¹ Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick, NSW, Australia.
¹² Behavioural Sciences Unit, School of Clinical Medicine, Discipline of Paediatrics and Child Health, UNSW Medicine & Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia.

Abstract

For people with primary brain tumors (PBT) and their carers, care coordination (CC) offers comprehensive, timely, person-centered care. This review aimed to systematically scope the breadth of literature relevant to approaches to CC for PBT. Four databases were searched (PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL) for empirical research, and gray literature was searched for doctoral theses, clinical guidelines, and education resources for healthcare professionals (HCPs) related to the concept/model of CC in neuro-oncology. Data were systematically evaluated and synthesized following PRISMA-SCR guidelines. From 1163 screened abstracts, 30 eligible reports were reviewed (13 addressed CC interventions, 9 narrative reports, 5 describing CC/navigator positions, and 3 clinical guidelines). Most reports described nurse-led models of care within single tertiary care centers in metropolitan settings: a single HCP acting as primary contact, educator, and liaison, screening patient/carer distress and providing referrals as key components of CC. Clinical guidelines emphasize healthcare system navigation and access to medical care in CC. A CC approach overseeing the whole PBT trajectory was lacking. Facilitators of CC included availability of HCP dedicated to CC; HCPs' competency in relationship-based and communication skills; and improved access to resources. System-level and resource barriers to CC were identified. Knowledge about CC is largely based on descriptions of nurse-led models of PBT care. Further research is required to refine the framework of CC reflecting factors of known importance in PBT care, and identify training and support needs of HCPs who may play a pivotal role in current models of neuro-oncology CC.

Keywords: brain tumor; care coordination; healthcare professionals; model of care; scoping review.

Publication types

Review