Background
Cancer control policies and strategies often prioritize clinical and health system factors, while the family and social barriers experienced by patients during treatment remain insufficiently documented. These barriers have a direct impact on treatment adherence, continuity of care, and health outcomes, particularly in middle-income countries, yet they are rarely identified and prioritized in a systematic way to inform public health action.
 
Objective
To identify and prioritize family and social barriers affecting treatment adherence and continuity of care among cancer patients and survivors, and to explore how this evidence can inform public health action.
 
Methods
This study is conducted as part of an institutional research project at the National Cancer Institute of Colombia for the period 2026–2028. A qualitative approach is employed, based on the application of structured interviews with cancer patients and survivors to identify family and social barriers influencing their care process. The barriers identified are subsequently analyzed and prioritized using the Delphi technique, allowing for the construction of informed consensus and the development of evidence-based recommendations relevant to public health decision-making.
 
Results
Preliminary findings indicate that family dynamics, caregiving burdens, economic constraints, and fragile social support networks significantly affect treatment adherence and continuity of care. The use of the Delphi technique enabled the prioritization of these barriers and facilitated their translation into clear and actionable inputs for public health decision-makers.
 
Conclusions
The systematic identification and prioritization of family and social barriers transform patients’ lived experiences into actionable evidence for public health. Incorporating this type of qualitative, consensus-based evidence into cancer control efforts can strengthen the relevance and effectiveness of policies, particularly in middle-income settings.