23rd June 2026
Dr Angelos Kassianos, Assistant Professor in Health Psychology and Director of the Behavioral Science in Health Lab (BSiH Lab) at the Department of Nursing, Cyprus University of Technology, participated in the INE-CSC 2026 International Conference titled “The Next Chapter – Empowering Individuals, Families, and Society for Cancer Survivorship & Supportive Care”, held on 25–26 May 2026 at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Portugal.
The conference was organised and supported through the EU-funded COST Action CA21152 – Implementation Network Europe for Cancer Survivorship Care (INE-CSC), bringing together leading researchers, clinicians, policymakers, and advocates from across Europe to advance cancer survivorship science and practice.
Oral Presentation
Dr Kassianos delivered an oral presentation in Parallel Session 1 (25 May 2026) entitled:
“Models of psychosocial oncology care in Europe: insights from a scoping review and national expert interviews”
The presentation drew on two complementary studies conducted within the DESIPOC project (an EU4Health-funded initiative coordinated by Cyprus University of Technology):
- A scoping review (2010–2025) mapping models, practices, and service delivery in psychosocial oncology across EU member states, synthesising 27 peer-reviewed studies and 18 grey literature sources;
- A qualitative national expert study involving semi-structured interviews with 35 professionals (clinicians, policymakers, and NGO representatives) from Cyprus, Lithuania, Romania, and Spain.
Findings revealed a diverse but uneven European landscape, with promising models centred on stepped care, multidisciplinary integration, routine distress screening, and digital innovation, alongside persistent structural barriers including insufficient funding, workforce shortages, and the absence of formal psychosocial oncology standards. The presentation called for stable financing, formal recognition within national cancer control plans, and cross-disciplinary training to ensure equitable psychosocial support across the cancer continuum.
COST Action Management Committee Meeting
Dr Kassianos also attended the COST Action CA21152 Management Committee Meeting, held on 26 May 2026, contributing to the governance and strategic direction of the INE-CSC network.
The DESIPOC project is funded by the European Commission under the EU4Health programme and runs from September 2024 for 36 months. It aims to strengthen psychosocial support in cancer care across Europe through a digital platform and virtual observatory of evidence-based tools, training resources, and best practices.
