Trends in Social Research on Cancer in Chile: A Scoping Review

Abstract

This scoping review identifies trends in social research on cancer in Chile, addressing various thematic areas such as health design and technologies, health psychology, public health and health policies, health communication, medicine, technology and society, professional health education, professional care, identities and subjectivities, health economics, and intervention and social support. A total of 35 relevant articles published between 2014 and 2024 were identified through searches in databases such as PubMed, Scopus, WoS, SciELO, Dialnet, and Latindex, as well as manual searches in Chilean journals. The results highlight a wide variety of research topics and several gaps in research, such as oncological medical education and the doctor-patient relationship. Significant gaps were also identified in research on medical communication and on psychosocial intervention and support. Despite limitations, including the exclusion of gray literature and potential language bias, this review provides a comprehensive overview that can inform future social research on cancer and its translation into public health policies.