ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: In 2017, the World Health Organization urged member states to develop and implement national cancer control plans (NCCPs) and to anticipate and promote cancer survivor follow-up care, which is a critical yet often overlooked component of NCCPs. This study aims to examine the inclusion of cancer survivorship-related strategies and objectives in NCCPs of African countries. METHODS: Independent reviewers extracted strategies, objectives, and associated indicators related to survivorship care from 21 current or recently expired NCCPs in African countries. Building on a similar analysis of the US state cancer control plans, reviewers categorized these strategies according to an adapted version of the ten recommendations for comprehensive survivorship care detailed in the 2006 National Academy of Medicine report. RESULTS: A total of 202 survivorship-related strategies were identified, with all NCCPs including between 1 and 23 references to survivorship. Eighty-three (41%) strategies were linked to measurable indicators, and 128 (63%) of the survivorship-related strategies were explicitly focused on palliative care. The most frequent domains referenced were models of coordinated care (65 strategies), healthcare professional capacity (45), and developing and utilizing evidence-based guidelines (23). The least-referenced domains were survivorship care plans (4) and adequate and affordable health insurance (0). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study indicate that survivorship objectives and strategies should extend beyond palliative care to encompass all aspects of survivorship and should include indicators to measure progress. IMPLICATIONS FOR CANCER SURVIVORS: Stakeholders can use this baseline analysis to identify and address gaps in survivorship care at the national policy level.
Subject(s)
Cancer Survivors , Neoplasms , Humans , Survivorship , Neoplasms/therapy , Delivery of Health Care , AfricaABSTRACT
A long-term partnership among the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence (BCCOE) in Rwanda, Partners in Health (PIH)/Inshuti Mu Buzima, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) supports the development of oncology nurses through a clinical nurse educator role. Two senior Rwandan oncology nurses at BCCOE were hired as nurse educators and were mentored by a PIH/DFCI oncology nurse educator using the accompaniment approach. The formalized mentorship process included long-term accompaniment for all educator projects spanning staff training, quality improvement, research, and clinical practice, as well as development of nurse educator competencies and creation of a repository of resources.
