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.

COVID-19 Pandemic: Preparing to Care for Patients With Cancer From the Perspective of Low- and Middle-Income Countries

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 586-590
Author(s):  
Annette Galassi ◽  
Tamara Otsuru Augustinho Teixeira ◽  
Edvane Birelo Lopes De Domenico ◽  
Majeda Al-Ruzzieh ◽  
Naomi Oyoe Ohene Oti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Low And Middle Income

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.

Some Conditions for Task Shifting in Low and Middle-Income Countries

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joop de Jong ◽  
Mark Jordans ◽  
Ivan Komproe ◽  
Robert Macy ◽  
Aline & Herman Ndayisaba ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Task Shifting ◽  
Middle Income ◽  
Middle Income Countries ◽  
Low And Middle Income
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