Speakers - 2026

Title: Psychosocial determinants of cancer survivorship: Integrating loneliness, stigma, mental health, and functional outcomes into holistic nursing care

Abstract

Cancer survivorship reflects a complex interaction of biological, psychological, social, and functional dimensions. Despite substantial improvements in cancer treatment, psychosocial burdens such as loneliness, stigma, anxiety, depression, frailty, and sensory impairments continue to shape the lived experiences and long-term outcomes of cancer patients. This presentation synthesizes a comprehensive research program conducted in Indonesia and Asia, demonstrating how psychosocial determinants critically influence survivorship, particularly in regions with evolving supportive care systems. Five major studies form the empirical foundation of this keynote. The first examines loneliness among breast cancer patients, revealing strong associations with frailty and unemployment, and identifying social support as a key protective factor. The second study highlights that anxiety, loneliness, and frailty significantly hinder return-to-work readiness among survivors. A third component, a meta-analysis, demonstrates that dysgeusia affects approximately half of head and neck cancer patients, further influencing nutritional status and quality of life. The fourth study identifies anxiety, depression, and unemployment as major determinants of reduced physical and mental health–related quality of life during the COVID-19 pandemic. The fifth study introduces an important dimension: cancer-related stigma. Among 280 breast cancer patients in Padang, Indonesia, 39.6% experienced high stigma, with the highest burden in the domains of concealability and impaired self-image. Stigma worsened emotional distress, reinforced social withdrawal, and compounded loneliness—establishing it as a critical psychosocial barrier requiring targeted intervention. Together, these studies provide a multidimensional understanding of the psychosocial landscape of cancer survivorship. This keynote introduces the Psychosocial Oncology Nursing Framework, which integrates loneliness, stigma, psychological distress, frailty, social support, and sensory impairments into a unified model. The framework is designed to guide clinical practice, interdisciplinary collaboration, education, and future research, enabling nurses and healthcare teams to deliver more precise, equitable, and holistic survivorship care.

The audience take away from presentation:
1. Enhanced competency in early psychosocial assessment
Participants will learn how to utilize validated tools to detect loneliness, stigma, anxiety, frailty, and dysgeusia early in care—improving clinical accuracy and timely intervention.
2. Evidence-based strategies for designing holistic survivorship care
Attendees will gain actionable approaches to integrating psychological, social, and functional needs into care pathways to improve quality of life, nutritional outcomes, and return-to-work readiness.
3. Adoption of a transferable Psychosocial Oncology Nursing Framework
Faculty can integrate the framework into teaching and curriculum development; researchers can use it to develop future investigations and international collaborations.
4. Practical approaches for reducing cancer-related stigma
The session provides communication strategies, peer support models, and psychosocial interventions that clinicians can apply immediately in clinical and community settings.
5. Improved interdisciplinary coordination and workflow efficiency
The framework supports collaboration among oncology teams, psychologists, dietitians, and rehabilitation specialists, facilitating more efficient care design and better survivorship outcomes