Psychosocial Relationships in Neuro-Oncology: A Qualitative Investigation of Health Systems, Burden, and Practice

Abstract

This research presents a multi-site qualitative investigation focused on the psychological experiences of clinicians caring for neuro-oncological patients—a terminally ill population whose complex neurological, cognitive, and physical decline places substantial demands on health care providers. Despite the severity of this burden, the mental well-being of neuro-oncological specialists remains critically understudied, particularly in relation to broader structures of health policy and socio-cultural context. Through 100 hours of ethnographic observation and 30 semi-structured interviews conducted at clinical sites in Mexico City (MX) and Chicago (US), this research sought to characterize the psychosocial experience of oncological caregiving. Thematic analysis of the collected qualitative data revealed 15 prominent themes across dimensions of attitude, behavior, interpersonal connection, self-imposed burden, environmental stressors, and standalone constructs, informing the development of a holistic conceptual model of clinician well-being. This framework was subsequently applied to a set of provider interviews collected in the United Kingdom, demonstrating its utility in assessing the experiences of providers across diverse global contexts. These findings offer a strong foundation for future quantitative expansion and system-level health interventions targeting clinician burden in neuro-oncological settings.