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Bansal D, Davidson A, Supriyadi E, Njuguna F, Ribeiro RC, Kaspers GJL. SIOP PODC adapted risk stratification and treatment guidelines: Recommendations for acute myeloid leukemia in resource-limited settings. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2023; 70:e28087. [PMID: 31774234 DOI: 10.1002/pbc.28087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), limited resources, suboptimal risk stratification, and disproportionate patient-to-infrastructure ratio result in low survival of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A high incidence of relapse, inherent to the biology, renders management arduous. The challenge of treating AML in LMICs is of balancing the intensity of myelosuppressive chemotherapy, which appears necessary for cure, with available supportive care, which influences treatment-related mortality. The recommendations outlined in this paper are based on published evidence and expert opinion. The principle of this adapted protocol is to tailor treatment to available resources, reduce preventable toxic death, and direct limited resources toward those children who are most likely to be cured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Bansal
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology-Oncology Unit, Advanced Pediatrics Center, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Alan Davidson
- Haematology-Oncology Service, Red Cross Children's Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Eddy Supriyadi
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Division, Department of Pediatrics, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Dr. Sardjito Hospital, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Festus Njuguna
- Department of Child Health and Paediatrics, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Raul C Ribeiro
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | - Gertjan J L Kaspers
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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2
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Salek M, Silverstein A, Tilly A, Gassant PY, Gunasekera S, Hordofa DF, Hesson D, Duffy C, Malik N, McNeil M, Force LM, Bhakta N, Rodin D, Kaye EC. Factors influencing treatment decision-making for cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries: A scoping review. Cancer Med 2023; 12:18133-18152. [PMID: 37526041 PMCID: PMC10524036 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE In this scoping review, we evaluated existing literature related to factors influencing treatment decision-making for patients diagnosed with cancer in low- and middle-income countries, noting factors that influence decisions to pursue treatment with curative versus non-curative intent. We identified an existing framework for adult cancer developed in a high-income country (HIC) context and described similar and novel factors relevant to low-and middle-income country settings. METHODS We used scoping review methodology to identify and synthesize existing literature on factors influencing decision-making for pediatric and adult cancer in these settings. Articles were identified through an advanced Boolean search across six databases, inclusive of all article types from inception through July 2022. RESULTS Seventy-nine articles were identified from 22 countries across six regions, primarily reporting the experiences of lower-middle and upper-middle-income countries. Included articles largely represented original research (54%), adult cancer populations (61%), and studied patients as the targeted population (51%). More than a quarter of articles focused exclusively on breast cancer (28%). Approximately 30% described factors that influenced decisions to choose between therapies with curative versus non-curative intent. Of 56 reported factors, 22 novel factors were identified. Socioeconomic status, reimbursement policies/cost of treatment, and treatment and supportive care were the most commonly described factors. CONCLUSIONS This scoping review expanded upon previously described factors that influence cancer treatment decision-making in HICs, broadening knowledge to include perspectives of low- and middle-income countries. While global commonalities exist, certain variables influence treatment choices differently or uniquely in different settings. Treatment regimens should further be tailored to local environments with consideration of contextual factors and accessible resources that often impact decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Salek
- Department of Global Pediatric MedicineSt Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Allison Silverstein
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Colorado School of MedicineAuroraColoradoUSA
| | - Alyssa Tilly
- Division of General Medicine and Clinical EpidemiologyUniversity of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillNorth CarolinaUSA
| | | | - Sanjeeva Gunasekera
- Department of Paediatric OncologyNational Cancer InstituteMaharagamaSri Lanka
| | - Diriba Fufa Hordofa
- Department of Pediatrics and Child HealthJimma University Medical CenterJimmaEthiopia
| | - Donna Hesson
- Welch Medical LibraryJohns Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMarylandUSA
| | - Caitlyn Duffy
- Department of Global Pediatric MedicineSt Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Nauman Malik
- Department of Radiation OncologyUniversity of California, San FranciscoSan FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
| | - Michael McNeil
- Department of Global Pediatric MedicineSt Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Lisa M. Force
- Department of Health Metrics Sciences and Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology/OncologyUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Nickhill Bhakta
- Department of Global Pediatric MedicineSt Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Danielle Rodin
- Department of Radiation, OncologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Radiation Medicine ProgramPrincess Margaret Cancer CentreTorontoOntarioCanada
- Canada Global Cancer ProgramPrincess Margaret Cancer CentreTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Erica C. Kaye
- Department of OncologySt Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
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Ouchveridze E, Banerjee R, Desai A, Aziz M, Lee-Smith W, Mian H, Berger K, McClune B, Sborov D, Qazilbash M, Kumar S, Mohyuddin GR. Financial toxicity in hematological malignancies: a systematic review. Blood Cancer J 2022; 12:74. [PMID: 35459862 PMCID: PMC9033803 DOI: 10.1038/s41408-022-00671-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Hematologic malignancy outcomes have remarkably improved in the past decade with further advancement expected in future years. However, the detrimental effects of financial toxicity (FT) on patients with hematologic malignancies, because of both diagnoses and subsequent treatments, have not been studied comprehensively. We performed a systematic review of all studies reporting FT as a primary or secondary outcome among adult or pediatric patients with hematological malignancies. A total of 55 studies met the inclusion criteria for analysis. Across studies, 20-50% of patients reported some form of FT, including loss of work productivity, food and transportation costs, and depletion of savings. Younger age, lower-income level, unemployment, and rural residence were the most commonly identified risk factors for FT. Two studies looked at survival outcomes, with one reporting improvement in survival with a decrease in financial toxicity. However, significant heterogeneity in FT definitions was found between countries and payor systems. Only half of the studies (51%, n = 28) used validated survey instruments such as the COST assessment. The present systematic review identified that FT is common in patients with hematological malignancies and may be associated with poorer outcomes. However, studies of FT generally use non-standardized methods with cross-sectional analyses rather than longitudinal, prospective assessments. Further work is needed to standardize FT reporting and investigate measures to alleviate FT among patients with hematologic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evguenia Ouchveridze
- Department of Hematological Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics, Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas, KS, USA
| | - Rahul Banerjee
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aakash Desai
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Muhammad Aziz
- Mulford Health Science Library, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Wade Lee-Smith
- Mulford Health Science Library, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Hira Mian
- Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Katherine Berger
- Patient Advocate, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Brian McClune
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Douglas Sborov
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Muzaffar Qazilbash
- Division of Transplant, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Shaji Kumar
- Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Ghulam Rehman Mohyuddin
- Division of Hematology and Hematological Malignancies, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA.
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Zhan C, Wu Z, Yang L, Yu L, Deng J, Luk K, Duan C, Zhang L. Disparities in economic burden for children with leukemia insured by resident basic medical insurance: evidence from real-world data 2015–2019 in Guangdong, China. BMC Health Serv Res 2022; 22:229. [PMID: 35183172 PMCID: PMC8858506 DOI: 10.1186/s12913-022-07564-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pediatric leukemia is the most prevalent childhood cancer in China and incurs heavy economic burden to patients without sufficient insurance protection. Although all Chinese children are obliged to enroll in the national insurance scheme, “Resident Basic Medical Insurance (RBMI)”, the protection may vary among patient subgroups. This study is designed to measure the disparities in economic burden for patients with leukemia under RBMI protection and explore the influencing factors. Methods The included patients were aged ≤ 15 and diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) or acute myeloid leukemia (AML, with/without transplantation). They all completed treatment course consecutively in Nanfang Hospital and Zhujiang Hospital from Jan.1, 2015, to Dec.30, 2019, in Guangzhou, China. Their inpatient treatment and insurance settlement data were drawn from the Hospital Information System (HIS) and Insurance Settlement System (ISS). A total of 765 consecutive patients and 14,477 inpatient medical records were included and analyzed. Their insurance status (6 subtypes), economic burden [total cost, out-of-pocket cost (OOP), reimbursement, reimbursement rate (RR)], and cost structures (operation/procedure, blood products, drug, simple treatment) were calculated respectively. Non-normally distributed costs were reported as the median and interquartile range (IQR). Wilcoxon test was used for univariate tests and generalized linear model with log link was used to explore the influencing factors. Results The insured patients who were treated in the location of insurance with instant reimbursement reported the highest total cost and reimbursement, while those who seek medical care cross-province with no instant reimbursement reported the lowest total cost and highest OOP payment. In terms of annual change, the total cost of children with leukemia decreased from 2015–2019 with stably increasing reimbursement rate. Blood products and drugs were the major components of total cost, but they decreased annually. Patients who received transplantation and treated across provinces were with a higher economic burden. Conclusion The economic burden for children with leukemia decreased overtime under the protection of RBMI, but disparities exist among subtypes. The payer-provider contract on instant reimbursement and drug cost control are effective measures for insurance administrators to curb the economic burdens of pediatric leukemia treatment. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-022-07564-8.
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Health-Related and Economic Burden Among Family Caregivers of Patients with Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Hematological Malignancies. Adv Ther 2021; 38:5002-5024. [PMID: 34499319 PMCID: PMC8478752 DOI: 10.1007/s12325-021-01872-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Introduction Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is associated with lower survival and greater unmet need compared with some other hematologic malignancies (HMs). Despite differences in acuteness between AML and other HMs, the burden of family caregivers (FCs) of patients with these malignancies offer similar patient experiences. A targeted literature review was conducted to explore FC burden of patients with AML and HM with and without hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT). Instruments to measure and interventions to address FC burden were identified. Methods Studies on economic burden and compromised health-related quality of life (HRQoL) associated with FC burden, family affairs, and childcare from 1 January 2010 to 30 June 2019 were identified through database and hand searches. Published English articles on randomized controlled trials or standardized qualitative or quantitative observational studies were included. FCs were those in close familial proximity to the patient (i.e., spouse, parents, children, relatives, other family members, significant others). Results Seventy-one publications were identified (AML, n = 3; HM, n = 29; HSCT, n = 39). Predominant burden categories included humanistic (n = 33), economic (n = 17), and interventions (n = 22); one study was classified as humanistic and economic. FCs lack sufficient resources to manage stressors and experience negative psychological, behavioral, and physiological effects. FCs of patients with HMs reported post-traumatic stress disorder, significant sleep problems, moderate-to-poor HRQoL, and negative impacts on family relationships. Instruments designed to measure caregiver burden were generic and symptom-specific. Educational, expressional, and self-adjustment interventions were used to improve FC burden. Conclusion Findings indicate a need for additional research, public health approaches to support FCs, and effective interventions to address FC burden. Minimizing FC burden and improving quality of life may reduce the overall healthcare service use and allow FCs to more effectively fulfill caregiver tasks. Support systems to alleviate caregiver burden may create reinforced integrators, thus positively affecting quality of life and possibly the outcomes of patients. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-021-01872-x.
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Minimally myelosuppressive regimen for remission induction in pediatric AML: long-term results of an observational study. Blood Adv 2021; 5:1837-1847. [PMID: 33787864 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment refusal and death as a result of toxicity account for most treatment failures among children with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in resource-constrained settings. We recently reported the results of treating children with AML with a combination of low-dose cytarabine and mitoxantrone or omacetaxine mepesuccinate with concurrent granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) (low-dose chemotherapy [LDC]) for remission induction followed by standard postremission strategies. We have now expanded the initial cohort and have provided long-term follow-up. Eighty-three patients with AML were treated with the LDC regimen. During the study period, another 100 children with AML received a standard-dose chemotherapy (SDC) regimen. Complete remission was attained in 88.8% and 86.4% of patients after induction in the LDC and SDC groups, respectively (P = .436). Twenty-two patients in the LDC group received SDC for the second induction course. Significantly more high-risk AML patients were treated with the SDC regimen (P = .035). There were no significant differences between the LDC and SDC groups in 5-year event-free survival (61.4% ± 8.7% vs 65.2% ± 7.4%, respectively; P = .462), overall survival (72.7% ± 6.9% vs 72.5% ± 6.2%, respectively; P = .933), and incidence of relapse (20.5% ± 4.5% vs 17.6% ± 3.9%, respectively; P = .484). Clearance of mutations based on the average variant allele frequency at complete remission in the LDC and SDC groups was 1.9% vs 0.6% (P < .001) after induction I and 0.17% vs 0.078% (P = .052) after induction II. In conclusion, our study corroborated the high remission rate reported for children with AML who received at least 1 course of LDC. The results, although preliminary, also suggest that long-term survival of these children is comparable to that of children who receive SDC regimens.
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7
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Van Weelderen RE, Klein K, Natawidjaja MD, De Vries R, Kaspers GJ. Outcome of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review of the literature. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 21:765-780. [PMID: 33779466 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1895756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Survival rates of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) seem extremely poor, and the available literature on the matter is scarce. Accordingly, there is a limited understanding of poor treatment outcomes seen in this population.Areas covered: We provide an overview of the available literature with respect to treatment outcomes of pediatric AML in LMICs yielding poor outcomes compared to high-income countries. Moreover, treatment outcomes vary markedly between LMICs. In addition, there is a wide variation among studies in how treatment outcomes are reported and analyzed.Expert opinion: The substantially inferior treatment outcomes of pediatric AML in LMICs emphasize the unprecedented importance of global initiatives and international collaborations to improve the survival of these patients. A coordinated approach is necessary to carry out country-specific situational analyses. These analyses will result in operational plans on how to structurally implement childhood cancer registries, align healthcare infrastructure, build on capacities, and provide universal health coverage in LMICs. In addition, we strongly recommend that, in the future, LMICs document, analyze, and publish pediatric AML treatment outcomes in a more structured and uniform manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Romy E Van Weelderen
- Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Pediatric Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Kim Klein
- Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Pediatric Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands.,Wilhelmina Children's Hospital/University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Meyrina D Natawidjaja
- Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Pediatric Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Ralph De Vries
- Medical Library, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gertjan Jl Kaspers
- Emma Children's Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Pediatric Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.,Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
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Yang S, Liao J, Li S, Hua K, Wang P, Zhang Y, Zhao Y, Gu Y, Li S, Huang J. Risk Factors and Reasons for Treatment Abandonment for Patients With Esophageal Atresia: A Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Beijing, China. Front Pediatr 2021; 9:634573. [PMID: 33987150 PMCID: PMC8112547 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2021.634573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: This study aims to identify the risk factors and reasons for treatment abandonment for patients with esophageal atresia (EA) in a tertiary care hospital in China. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on 360 patients with EA admitted to Beijing Children's Hospital between January 1, 2007 and June 1, 2020. Medical records for treatment abandonment and non-treatment abandonment patients were compared. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify potential risk factors for treatment abandonment. Results: After the diagnosis of EA, parents of 107 patients refused surgical repair and discharged against medical advice, and 253 patients underwent surgical repair. Among these 253 patients, parents of 59 patients abandoned treatment after surgery; 52 patients were discharged in an unstable condition, and parents of seven patients abandoned resuscitation leading to death in the hospital. By comparing clinical characteristics between treatment abandonment before surgery (n = 107) and non-treatment abandonment (n = 253) groups, we found that mother's parity >1, unplanned admission to intensive care unit before surgery, associated anomalies, and Gross type A/B were significant independent risk factors for treatment abandonment before surgery. Furthermore, birth weight <2,545 g, being discharged from neonatal center/intensive care unit and other departments, unplanned admission to intensive care unit after surgery, operative time >133 min, admission before 2016, pneumothorax, and anastomotic leakage were significant independent risk factors for treatment abandonment after surgery. The reasons for treatment abandonment included financial difficulties, multiple malformations with poor prognosis, belief of incurability and concerns about the prognosis of the diseases, postoperative complications, and extensive length of intensive care unit stay. Conclusions: Treatment abandonment of children with EA/TEF is still a common and serious problem in China. This study showed that EA/TEF patients in critical conditions, with associated anomalies, Gross type A/B, and who had occurrence of complications had high-risk for treatment abandonment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Yang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Junmin Liao
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Siqi Li
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiyun Hua
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Peize Wang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yanan Zhang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yong Zhao
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yichao Gu
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Shuangshuang Li
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jinshi Huang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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9
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Palagyi A, Balane C, Shanthosh J, Jun M, Bhoo-Pathy N, Gadsden T, Canfell K, Jan S. Treatment abandonment in children with cancer: Does a sex difference exist? A systematic review and meta-analysis of evidence from low- and middle-income countries. Int J Cancer 2020; 148:895-904. [PMID: 32875569 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
In this systematic review and meta-analyses, we sought to determine sex-disparities in treatment abandonment in children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) and identify the characteristics of children and their families most disadvantaged by such abandonment. Sex-disaggregated data on treatment abandonment were collated from the available literature and a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to compare the rates in girls with those in boys. Subgroup analyses were conducted in which studies were stratified by design, cancer type and the Gender Inequality Index of the country of study. Eighteen studies were included in the systematic review and of these studies, 16 qualified for the meta-analysis, representing 10 754 children. The pooled rate of treatment abandonment overall was 30%. We observed no difference in the proportion of treatment abandonment in girls relative to estimates observed in boys (rate ratio [RR] 0.95, 95% CI: 0.79-1.15; P = .61). There was significant heterogeneity across the included studies and in the pooled estimate of RR for girls vs boys (both I2 > 98%). Subgroup analyses did not reveal any effect on abandonment risk. Risk factors for abandonment observed fell into three main categories: socio-demographic; geographic; and travel-related. In conclusion, a high rate of treatment abandonment (30%) was observed overall for children with cancer in included studies in LMICs, although this was variable and context specific. No evidence of gender bias in childhood cancer treatment abandonment rates across LMICs was found. Given that the risk factors for abandonment are context specific, in-depth country-level analyses may provide further insights into the role of a child's gender in treatment abandonment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Palagyi
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Christine Balane
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,School of Women's and Children's Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Janani Shanthosh
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Australian Human Rights Institute, Faculty of Law, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Min Jun
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nirmala Bhoo-Pathy
- Department of Social and Preventive Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Thomas Gadsden
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Karen Canfell
- Cancer Research Division, Cancer Council NSW, Woolloomooloo, Australia.,Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.,Price of Wales Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Stephen Jan
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.,Sydney School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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10
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Yang S, Cai S, Liao J, Peng X, Huang J. Risk Factors and Reasons for Discharge Against Medical Advice for Newborns With Neonatal Surgical Diseases: A Preliminary Study From a Tertiary Care Hospital in Beijing, China. Front Pediatr 2020; 8:576270. [PMID: 33134233 PMCID: PMC7562829 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2020.576270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: To identify the risk factors and reasons for discharge against medical advice (DAMA) for newborns with neonatal surgical diseases in a tertiary care hospital in China. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on all newborn patients admitted to the neonatal surgery department of Beijing Children's Hospital between January 1, 2016 and January 1, 2020. Medical records were compared between DAMA and non-DAMA patients. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to identify potentially useful characteristics for predicting DAMA. Results: During the study period, 854 newborns were admitted to the neonatal surgery department. A total of 68 DAMA patients (68/854, 7.96%, 47 boys), with a median age at diagnosis of 1 day (range, from birth to 21 days), were included in this study. After multivariate analysis, we found that emergency admission, age at admission ≤5 days, rejection for surgery, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit were significant independent risk factors for DAMA. According to the electronic medical records, the reasons for DAMA included belief in incurability and concerns about the prognosis of the disease (n = 31), multiple malformations with poor prognosis (n = 8), severe postoperative complications (n = 5), financial difficulties (n = 3), refusal of further examinations (n = 2), assumption of clinical improvement (n = 1), and unknown (n = 18). Conclusions: This preliminary study showed that neonatal surgical patients in critical conditions were high-risk groups for DAMA, and the main possible reasons for DAMA were the parents' belief in incurability and concerns about the prognosis of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Yang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Siyu Cai
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Junmin Liao
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoxia Peng
- Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Evidence-Based Medicine, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
| | - Jinshi Huang
- Department of Neonatal Surgery, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
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