TY - JOUR
T1 - The Italian response to cancer survivorship research and practice
T2 - Developing an evidence base for reform
AU - Mattioli, Vittorio
AU - Montanaro, Rosanna
AU - Romito, Francesca
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - Introduction: Improvement in cancer survival rates have increased longevity but have also revealed physical and psycho-social sequelae of long-term survivorship and raised many questions regarding how to assess, treat, and prevent these survival-related problems. The United States, Australia, and some northern European Union countries have already started to address these issues. Italy still needs to take up this challenge, taking into account its specific social and cultural background that shapes a different survivorship scenario. Methods: This brief report summarizes the concept of cancer survivorship and the response to this emerging public health issue in Italy. Two current nationwide research programs on long-term cancer survivorship and post-cancer pain are described to provide readers with a perspective of how Italy is seeking to increase the understanding of the needs and problems of cancer survivors. Implications for cancer survivors: The results of these nationwide research programs will provide an evidence base for reforming the national care plans to address the needs of the growing number of Italian people with a history of cancer. It is hoped that this description of Italy's response to this public health challenge will offer some insight into how Italy is responding to the health and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors.
AB - Introduction: Improvement in cancer survival rates have increased longevity but have also revealed physical and psycho-social sequelae of long-term survivorship and raised many questions regarding how to assess, treat, and prevent these survival-related problems. The United States, Australia, and some northern European Union countries have already started to address these issues. Italy still needs to take up this challenge, taking into account its specific social and cultural background that shapes a different survivorship scenario. Methods: This brief report summarizes the concept of cancer survivorship and the response to this emerging public health issue in Italy. Two current nationwide research programs on long-term cancer survivorship and post-cancer pain are described to provide readers with a perspective of how Italy is seeking to increase the understanding of the needs and problems of cancer survivors. Implications for cancer survivors: The results of these nationwide research programs will provide an evidence base for reforming the national care plans to address the needs of the growing number of Italian people with a history of cancer. It is hoped that this description of Italy's response to this public health challenge will offer some insight into how Italy is responding to the health and psychosocial needs of cancer survivors.
KW - Cancer pain
KW - Cancer rehabilitation
KW - Cancer survivors
KW - Cancer survivorship research
KW - Chronic pain
KW - Public health
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=78649693876&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1007/s11764-010-0143-9
DO - 10.1007/s11764-010-0143-9
M3 - Article
C2 - 20652433
AN - SCOPUS:78649693876
VL - 4
SP - 284
EP - 289
JO - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
JF - Journal of Cancer Survivorship
SN - 1932-2259
IS - 3
ER -