Healthcare Providers' Attitudes Toward Oncology Patients With Mental Disorders
Italy1,000 participantsStarted 2026-09-01
Plain-language summary
ONCO-MinD is a multicentre, cross-sectional, non-interventional mixed-method study aimed at investigating healthcare providers' attitudes towards oncology patients with mental disorders in Italian cancer centres. The study will assess levels of mental health-related stigma among healthcare professionals and explore factors associated with these attitudes, including professional background, clinical setting, experience, and previous exposure to mental health conditions. Quantitative survey data collected using the Italian version of the Opening Minds Scale for Health Care Providers (OMS-HC) will be integrated with qualitative findings from semi-structured interviews to provide a comprehensive understanding of how stigma may influence clinical relationships, decision-making processes, and equity of cancer care.
Who can participate
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Healthcare professionals working in participating oncology centres.
* Physicians, nurses, psychologists, radiation therapy technologists, and healthcare assistants.
* Direct involvement in the clinical care of oncology patients.
* Employed at one of the participating study sites at the time of enrolment.
* Able to understand the study information and provide informed consent.
* Willing to participate in the study.
For the qualitative phase, a purposive sample of participants will be selected from survey respondents who agree to be contacted for a semi-structured interview.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Refusal to participate or failure to provide informed consent.
* Students in training.
* Healthcare personnel working in services with very limited patient contact and without direct responsibility for oncology patient care.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Mental health-related stigma among oncology healthcare professionals