IARC 60th Anniversary - 19-21 May 2026
Session : 21/05/26 - Posters
Enhancing the Cancer Patient Journey: Psychological, Logistical, and Health Literacy Barriers Across Egypt’s Public Oncology Centers
MAGDY N. 1, ALSAWAHLI H. 2, HEGAZY N. 3, SHAKER S. 4, MOHAMED R. 5, ABDELRAHMAN S. 6, ABDOU A. 7, AZIZ S. 8, MOUSTAFA D. 9, ABDELGHANY R. 10, ABD RABOU R. 11, RASHWAN Z. 12, BAIOUMY M. 13, MANSOUR A. 14, MAHMOUD L. 2, ABOU ELNAGA R. 3, AMIN H. 15, RIZK A. 16, IBRAHIEM M. 17
1 Biostatistician, Head of Clinical Research Unit, Sohag Oncology Center, Sohag, Egypt; 2 World Health Organisation, Eastern Mediterranean Region Office, Cairo, Egypt; 3 World Health Organisation, Egypt Country Office, Cairo, Egypt; 4 Clinical Pharmacy, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 5 Public Relations Department, Sohag Oncology Center, Sohag, Egypt; 6 Public Relations Department, Mit Ghamr Oncology Center, Dakahlia, Egypt; 7 Public Relations Department, Damietta Oncology Center, Damietta, Egypt; 8 Public Relations Department, Damanhour Oncology Center, Behira, Egypt; 9 Public Relations Department, El-Salam Oncology Center, Cairo, Egypt; 10 Public Relations Department, Minya Oncology Center, Minya, Egypt; 11 Public Relations Department, Qena Oncology Center, Qena, Egypt; 12 Public Relations Department, Tanta Oncology Center, Gharbia, Egypt; 13 Public Relations Department, El-Qabbary Oncology Center, Alexandria, Egypt; 14 Public Relations and Citizen Services Head, Secretariat of Specialized Medical Centers, Cairo, Egypt; 15 Surgical Oncology, General Manager of Sohag Oncology Center, Sohag, Egypt; 16 Vice President, Secretariat of Specialized Medical Centers, Cairo, Egypt; 17 Head, Secretariat of Specialized Medical Centers, Cairo, Egypt
Background
Egypt faces a substantial cancer burden, with over 150,000 new cases reported annually. While medical treatment is provided free of charge, people living with cancer (PLWC) must navigate complex pathways that present significant non-medical barriers. Logistical hurdles, psychological distress, and limited health literacy often delay treatment and worsen outcomes. Patient Navigation (PN) is a personalized approach designed to address these holistic needs. While Egypt’s Secretariat of Specialized Medical Centers (SMC), a key body under the Ministry of Health (MOH) managing a large network of hospitals, has existing patient affairs structures, they require evidence-based strengthening to transition toward a comprehensive PN model. Evaluating these barriers to care is essential to inform and shape this transformation.
Objectives
To document the patient’s journey and assess the barriers to care at nine SMC oncology centers to inform the design of a context-specific PN program.
Methods
A multicentre cross-sectional study was conducted across nine SMC oncology centers. Face-to-face interviews were performed with 390 PLWC to evaluate systemic, social, and psychosocial barriers to care using a structured assessment tool.
Results
Among 390 participants (median age 49; 74% female), 38% were diagnosed with breast cancer and 38% had no formal education. Socioeconomic vulnerability was significant, with 19% losing employment due to their diagnosis. Psychologically, despite high levels of distress, with 63% reporting severe sadness and 52% depressive symptoms, only 7.7% accessed professional support. Logistically, patients travelled from 17 governorates to reach the nine centres; 54% relied on informal public transport, and 34% faced daily commutes of 1.5–2 hours. These logistical hurdles were associated with treatment disruptions in 21% of cases. Regarding health literacy, 38% were unsure of their treatment schedule and 44% expressed a need for more medical information. Direct verbal communication was the most preferred modality (71%), significantly outperforming written or video formats.
Conclusions/Implications for practice or policy
Strengthening Egypt’s cancer care pathways requires a shift toward addressing the non-medical barriers that currently impede treatment success. The identified "triple burden" of psychological distress, logistical hurdles, and information gaps demonstrates that medical treatment must be supported by navigation services. To address these gaps, it is advised that the SMC prioritize the formal integration of PN programs within its oncology centers. By coordinating social protection services, providing mental health support, and simplifying patient-clinician communication, these programs can bridge the gap between service availability and service accessibility. Implementing this people-centered approach is a critical step toward achieving health equity and ensuring that the patient journey is as manageable as the medical treatment itself.