Bridging Gaps in Cancer Care: The Intersections of Psycho-Oncological Support and Palliative Care with Social Determinants of Health

A special issue of Behavioral Sciences (ISSN 2076-328X). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Psychology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 April 2026 | Viewed by 10

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
TUM School of Medicine and Health, Department Health and Sport Sciences, Chair of Social Determinants of Health, Technical University of Munich, 80333 München, Germany
Interests: social determinants of health; health inequalities among people with cancer; social participation and (re)integration after cancer

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This Special Issue of Behavioral Sciences seeks to illuminate the intersections of psycho-oncology and palliative care with social determinants of health. We aim to showcase multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research, interventions, and theoretical work that can help close these gaps—addressing the clinical, social, and structural factors shaping patient care. By examining patient-reported outcomes, expert views, the role of healthcare systems and policies, and the broader social context, this issue aspires to advance equitable and person-centered models in all phases of cancer treatment.

We invite authors to submit original research articles and reviews on the following topics:

  • The role of social determinants of health in shaping access to and the quality of psycho-oncological and palliative care;
  • Racial, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities in supportive oncology;
  • Structural barriers and facilitators to equitable cancer care;
  • Interdisciplinary approaches to addressing inequities in cancer support;
  • Psycho-oncological health and end-of-life care interventions that take into account the needs of vulnerable patients;
  • Analyses of current intervention programs to reduce cancer inequalities;
  • Implementation science approaches to address social inequalities in psycho-oncological and palliative care.

Dr. Julia Roick
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • psycho-oncological support
  • palliative cancer care
  • supportive oncology
  • social determinants in cancer care
  • cancer disparities
  • health equity in cancer
  • vulnerable cancer patients

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Published Papers

This special issue is now open for submission.
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