Regional disparities in lymphedema treatment and access to complex decongestive therapy: a nationwide survey in Japan.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Lymphedema has a significant impact on patient quality of life. However, it remains unclear whether the provision of lymphedema treatment in Japan is uniform across regions. This study aimed to clarify the current situation regarding lymphedema treatment with emphasis on complex decongestive therapies (CDT) availability and implementation in Japan.

Methods

A nationwide web-based survey was conducted. Respondents included healthcare professionals from designated cancer care hospitals and other medical institutions treating lymphedema in Japan. The distribution of variables, including the implementation of lymphedema treatment, was compared between designated cancer care hospitals and other facilities using the chi-square test. Japan was divided into nine regions to

SUBMITTER: Masujima M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12596720 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature