Rehabilitation needs of people with brain tumours in Ireland (“BRAIN-RESTORE”): a survey of healthcare professionals’ views

Access to rehabilitation after brain tumour can be limited, resulting in unmet needs. We examined healthcare professionals’ perceptions of rehabilitation need and current rehabilitation services for people with brain tumours in Ireland. A cross-sectional survey of community and hospital-based healthcare professionals caring for people with brain tumours was conducted in August 2023. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Frequency, percentages, 95% confidence intervals (CIs) and chi-square tests are presented. 123 participants completed surveys, health and social care professions (HSCPs) (72, 58.5%), medical (30, 24%) and nursing (21, 17%), and most had >10 years clinical experience (74, 60%). A range of complex rehabilitation challenges, which can persist across care settings, were identified. These included cognitive impairments (≥75% across acute, community, specialist rehabilitation and palliative settings); balance issues (≥65% across acute, community, specialist rehabilitation and palliative settings); inability to return to work (≥75% across acute, community, specialist rehabilitation and palliative settings). Many barriers for patients and healthcare professionals were linked to system-level factors such as limited access to specialist rehabilitation, community therapists lacking capacity and lack of defined care pathway. These findings will help healthcare professionals and health-service providers identify priorities to inform a more comprehensive treatment pathway and improve rehabilitation for those with brain tumours. Complex challenges can persist for people with a brain tumour which, once identified, should be prioritised for rehabilitation.The study findings identify deficits in current services in Ireland and provide increased insight into how rehabilitation pathways might need to be configured.This study suggests that increased accessibility to specialist rehabilitation and increased supports for people with a brain tumour and their families are required.These findings will be integrated with other results from the BRAIN-RESTORE project; to improve patient outcomes and inform policy and practice. Complex challenges can persist for people with a brain tumour which, once identified, should be prioritised for rehabilitation. The study findings identify deficits in current services in Ireland and provide increased insight into how rehabilitation pathways might need to be configured. This study suggests that increased accessibility to specialist rehabilitation and increased supports for people with a brain tumour and their families are required. These findings will be integrated with other results from the BRAIN-RESTORE project; to improve patient outcomes and inform policy and practice.