scholarly journals Reducing Oncologic Disparities by Standardizing Cancer Care

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 64-64
Author(s):  
Pallvi Popli ◽  
Mansi R. Shah ◽  
Tlotlo B. Ralefala ◽  
Deborah Toppmeyer ◽  
Roger Strair ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Care ◽  
Dissemination And Implementation ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Health And Wellness ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Ministry Of Health ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income

PURPOSE Shortages in oncology-trained health care providers pose a major challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and contribute to delays in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. Presently, the sole oncologist in the public sector at Princess Marina Hospital, Botswana’s largest oncology referral center, is overextended, causing medical officers to be the primary providers for patients with cancer. Medical officers do not possess formal oncology training, which can potentially lead to imprecise management and suboptimal treatment. In addition, there is no standardized patient interview process in the hematology clinic, leading to inadequately captured patient records. These realities highlight the need for the dissemination and implementation of evidence-based guidelines and intake forms to standardize the delivery of cancer care for practitioners with varying degrees of training. METHODS To serve as a reference for medical officers and oncologists, we reviewed clinical guidelines for the most prevalent cancers in Botswana, namely breast, cervical, prostate, colorectal, and head and neck cancer. We incorporated American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition staging criteria into the preexisting guidelines approved by Ministry of Health and Wellness Botswana. We further customized them on the basis of radiology, pathology, and pharmaceutical resource availability in Botswana. Finally, to streamline patient visits, we created intake forms to capture comprehensive hematology-pertinent information. As a quality improvement project, we will record the use and impact of these forms as a tool to standardize the medical records. RESULTS Standardized cancer care guidelines were updated and are under review by the Ministry of Health and Wellness Botswana before circulation. In addition, feedback regarding the new intake forms and their use is currently being recorded. CONCLUSION In low- and middle-income countries, the development of cancer-specific treatment guidelines optimizes disease management through incorporation of evidence-based, resource-adjusted recommendations for clinicians and may aid in reducing global oncologic disparities. As the next phase in the implementation of guidelines, we plan to develop quick-reference cancer pathways for use in public institutions without existing oncologic expertise.

scholarly journals C/Can City Engagement Process: An Implementation Framework for Strengthening Cancer Care in Cities in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2021 ◽  
pp. 901-916
Author(s):  
Silvina Frech ◽  
Rebecca Morton Doherty ◽  
Maria Cristina Lesmes Duque ◽  
Oscar Ramirez ◽  
Alicia Pomata ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Systems ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Care ◽  
Local Context ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Implementation Framework ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Engagement Process ◽  
Low And Middle Income

The effective implementation of locally adapted cancer care solutions in low- and middle-income countries continues to be a challenge in the face of fragmented and inadequately resourced health systems. Consequently, the translation of global cancer care targets to local action for patients has been severely constrained. City Cancer Challenge (C/Can) is leveraging the unique value of cities as enablers in a health systems response to cancer that prioritizes the needs of end users (patients, their caregivers and families, and health care providers). C/Can’s City Engagement Process is an implementation framework whereby local stakeholders lead a staged city-wide process over a 2- to 3-year period to assess, plan, and execute locally adapted cancer care solutions. Herein, the development and implementation of the City Engagement Process Framework (CEPF) is presented, specifying the activities, outputs, processes, and indicators across the process life cycle. Lessons learned on the application of the framework in the first so-called Key Learning cities are shared, focusing on the early outputs from Cali, Colombia, the first city to join C/Can in 2017. Creating lasting change requires the creation of a high-trust environment to engage the right stakeholders as well as adapting to local context, leveraging local expertise, and fostering a sustainability mindset from the outset. In the short term, these early learnings inform the refinement of the approach in new cities. Over time, the implementation of this framework is expected to validate the proof-of-concept and contribute to a global evidence base for effective complex interventions to improve cancer care in low- and middle-income countries.

scholarly journals Evidence-Based Guidelines for Mental, Neurological, and Substance Use Disorders in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Summary of WHO Recommendations

PLoS Medicine ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. e1001122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tarun Dua ◽  
Corrado Barbui ◽  
Nicolas Clark ◽  
Alexandra Fleischmann ◽  
Vladimir Poznyak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Substance Use Disorders ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Evidence Based Guidelines ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Abstract WP418: A Systematic Comparison of Key Features of Ischaemic Stroke Prevention Guidelines in Low- and Middle-income vs High-income Countries

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hernan O Bayona ◽  
Mayowa Owolabi ◽  
Wayne Feng ◽  
James R Sawers ◽  
Paul Olowoyo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
High Income ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Vascular Risk ◽  
Eligibility Criteria ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Prevention Guideline ◽  
Prevention Guidelines ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Introduction: Implementation of contextually appropriate, evidence-based, expert-recommended stroke prevention guideline is particularly important in Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs), which bear disproportional larger burden of stroke while possessing fewer resources. Focus therefore, should be on approaches enabling healthcare systems to improve control of vascular risk factors. Objective: We aimed to compare important features of stroke prevention guidelines between LMICs and High Income Countries (HICs). Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, AJOL, SciELO, and LILACS databases for stroke prevention guidelines published between January 2005 and December 2015 by country. Primary search items included: “Stroke” and “Guidelines”. We critically appraised the articles for evidence level, issuance frequency and implementation aspects to clinical practice. Results: Among 45 stroke prevention guidelines published, 28 (62%) met eligibility criteria: 7 from LMICs (25%) and 21 from HICs (75%). LMIC-issued guidelines were less likely to have conflict of interest declarations (57% vs. 100%, p=0.01), involve high quality systematic reviews (57% vs. 95%, p= 0.03), had good dissemination channels (14% vs 71%, p=0.02). The patient views and preferences were the most significant stakeholder considerations in HICs (43%, p=0.04) compared with LMICs. Conclusion: The quality and quantity of stroke prevention guidelines in LMICs are less than those of HICs and need to be significantly improved upon.

scholarly journals Development of immunohistochemistry services for cancer care in western Kenya: Implications for low- and middle-income countries

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirtika Patel ◽  
R. Matthew Strother ◽  
Francis Ndiangui ◽  
David Chumba ◽  
William Jacobson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cancer Care ◽  
Cost Model ◽  
Tertiary Care ◽  
Care Hospital ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Western Kenya ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Resource Limited ◽  
Limited Setting ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: Cancer is becoming a major cause of mortality in low- and middle-income countries. Unlike infectious disease, malignancy and other chronic conditions require significant supportive infrastructure for diagnostics, staging and treatment. In addition to morphologic diagnosis, diagnostic pathways in oncology frequently require immunohistochemistry (IHC) for confirmation. We present the experience of a tertiary-care hospital serving rural western Kenya, which developed and validated an IHC laboratory in support of a growing cancer care service.Objectives, methods and outcomes: Over the past decade, in an academic North-South collaboration, cancer services were developed for the catchment area of Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital in western Kenya. A major hurdle to treatment of cancer in a resource-limited setting has been the lack of adequate diagnostic services. Building upon the foundations of a histology laboratory, strategic investment and training were used to develop IHC services. Key elements of success in this endeavour included: translation of resource-rich practices to are source-limited setting, such as using manual, small-batch IHC instead of disposable- and maintenance-intensive automated machinery, engagement of outside expertise to develop reagent-efficient protocols and supporting all levels of staff to meet the requirements of an external quality assurance programme.Conclusion: Development of low- and middle-income country models of services, such as the IHC laboratory presented in this paper, is critical for the infrastructure in resource-limited settings to address the growing cancer burden. We provide a low-cost model that effectively develops these necessary services in a challenging laboratory environment.

Abstract P681: Implementation of Stroke Prevention Interventions in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review

Stroke ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 52 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nessa Ryan ◽  
Vida Rebello ◽  
Desiree Gutierrez ◽  
Kameko Washburn ◽  
Alvaro Zevallos Barboza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Scoping Review ◽  
Stroke Prevention ◽  
Health Workers ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Community Based Interventions ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Implementation Outcomes ◽  
Prevention Interventions ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Background: Stroke is the second leading cause of death globally and an increasing concern in low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) where, due to limited capacity to treat stroke, preventative efforts are critically important. Although some research on evidence-based interventions for stroke prevention in LMIC exists, there remains a significant gap in understanding of their implementation across various contexts in LMIC. Objectives: In this scoping review, our objective was to identify and synthesize the implementation outcomes (using Proctor et al.’s taxonomy, 2011) for stroke prevention interventions, as well as to describe the diverse interventions employed. Methods: Eligible studies were empirical, focused on implementation of stroke prevention programs or policies, and occurred in at least one LMIC. Five databases were searched, including PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for selection and charted data; discrepancies were resolved through discussion with a third reviewer until consensus was reached. Narrative synthesis was used to analyze and interpret the findings. Results: Studies were predominantly focused in Asia, targeting primary or secondary prevention, and facility-based. Interventions were conducted at the level of individual (n=11), system (n=12), or both (n=4). Various implementation outcomes were reported, most commonly cost (n=10), acceptability (n=7), fidelity (n=7), and feasibility (n=6), but also adoption (n=4), penetration (n=3), appropriateness (n=1), and sustainability (n=1). Conclusions: Findings highlight the breadth of evidence-based interventions for stroke prevention available to implement in LMIC settings, including culturally acceptable education interventions, cost-effective medications, and community-based interventions implemented by community health workers. Implementation outcomes remain under-reported, and more rigorous research is needed to better plan and evaluate the implementation of these interventions to prevent stroke.

PP124 Health Technology Assessment And Feedback For Healthy Workplace Culture In Malaria Care In Low And Middle Income Countries

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (S1) ◽  
pp. 114-114
Author(s):  
Patrick Okwen ◽  
Raphael Cheabum ◽  
Etienne Che ◽  
Joy Ngwemsi Mbunu ◽  
Miriam Nkangu
Keyword(s):  
Workplace Culture ◽  
Evidence Based ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Children Under Five ◽  
Under Five ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Percent Improvement ◽  
Evidence Based Care ◽  
Low And Middle Income

Introduction:Malaria is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity in children under five in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Management of malaria in children under five years of age is challenging. One challenge faced by clinical practice in LMICs is lack of evidence to guide practice. This challenge is further compounded by different training backgrounds of team members. In the management of malaria in Cameroon, conflicts usually arise between clinicians, lab technicians and pharmacists resulting in over diagnosis and treatment of malaria. The patient's view is usually not considered. This leads to over diagnosis and over prescriptions for malaria in children under five years of age.Methods:We used the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) approach of getting research into practice to organize stakeholder meetings, assess existing evidence in malaria care, develop evidence criteria for management based on levels of evidence, assess the gamut of care for malaria, provide feedback to clinicians and re-assess practice. We used the JBI practical application of clinical evidence system (PACES) and getting research into practice (GRiP) evidence implementation tools in the process to facilitate teamwork, collaboration on evidence and provide feedback.Results:A collaborative approach to assessments and feedback including all healthcare stakeholders significantly improved workplace culture of evidence-based care and staff-to-staff relationships as well as staff-to-patient relationships. Over a period of twelve months, we reported eighty-four percent fewer conflicts between staff and ninety-eight percent fewer conflicts between staff and patients. For malaria management, overall criteria showed a thirty-one percent improvement in compliance with best practice recommendations with evidence levels of Grade 1.Conclusions:The project demonstrated that local leadership and evidence-based care can significantly improve practice in resource limited settings.

scholarly journals Standardization of Education of Patients With Cancer in a Low- and Middle-Income Country: A Quality Improvement Project Using the Cancer and You Booklet

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-6
Author(s):  
Olivier Habimana ◽  
Vestine Mukeshimana ◽  
Albertine Ahishakiye ◽  
Protais Makuza ◽  
Vedaste Hategekimana ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Patient Education ◽  
Education Program ◽  
Standardized Patient ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Improvement Project ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Patient Education Program ◽  
Level Of Satisfaction ◽  
Low And Middle Income

PURPOSE The Butaro Cancer Centre of Excellence is the first comprehensive referral cancer center in Rwanda and at its inception did not have a standardized patient education program. Partners in Health/Inshuti Mu Buzima and the Rwandan Ministry of Health conducted a quality improvement project to increase patient knowledge by implementing a standardized oncology education program using picture-based and culturally appropriate materials designed for patients with cancer in low- and middle-income countries. METHODS Four Rwandan nurses were trained to provide patient education using the Cancer and You education booklet created by Global Oncology. A pre- and post-test design was used to evaluate patients’ knowledge of cancer, treatment, and management of adverse effects. Nurses administered a posteducation questionnaire in Kinyarwanda to determine patients’ level of satisfaction with the education session and booklet. The four nurses were interviewed at the completion of the project for their feedback. A total of 40 oncology patients were included in the pilot project, of which 85% reported completing primary school or less. RESULTS On average, participants improved 19% (95% CI, 13.9% to 24.1%; standard deviation, 16%) from pre- to postevaluation, demonstrating a significant increase in knowledge ( P ≤ .001). Nearly all patients (97.5%) reported that they were either satisfied or very satisfied with the education program. Oncology nurses gave positive feedback, highlighting that it was helpful to have a standard tool for education with descriptive illustrations for those patients with low literacy. CONCLUSION Implementation of a standardized patient education program demonstrated a statistically significant increase in patient knowledge and a high level of satisfaction among patients and nurses. The project serves as an example for other low- and middle-income countries looking to standardize oncology patient education.

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