Early impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric cancer care in Latin America

Although previous studies have suggested that the complications and mortality rate related to COVID-19 are substantially lower in the paediatric population,1 it is reasonable to consider that children with underlying conditions such as cancer will be at increased risk of severe disease...Fil: Vasquez, Liliana. Universidad de San Martín de Porres; Perú. Organización Panamericana de la Salud; PerúFil: Sampor, Claudia. Fundacion Hospital de Pediatria Professor Dr. Juan P. Garrahan; ArgentinaFil: Villanueva, Gabriela. Fundacion Hospital de Pediatria Professor Dr. Juan P. Garrahan; ArgentinaFil: Maradiegue, Essy. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas; PerúFil: Garcia Lombardi, Mercedes. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital General de Niños "Ricardo Gutiérrez"; ArgentinaFil: Gomez García, Wendy. Hospital Infantil Dr. Robert Reid Cabral; República DominicanaFil: Moreno, Florencia. Ministerio de Salud. Instituto Nacional del Cáncer; ArgentinaFil: Diaz, Rosdali. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplasicas; PerúFil: Cappellano, Andrea M.. Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo; BrasilFil: Portilla, Carlos Andres. Universidad del Valle; ColombiaFil: Salas, Beatriz. Hospital del Niño Manuel Ascencio Villarroel; BoliviaFil: Nava, Evelinda. Hospital de Niños Jesus Garcia Coello; VenezuelaFil: Brizuela, Silvia. Instituto de Previsión Social ; ParaguayFil: Jimenez, Soledad. Hospital Solca Núcleo de Loja; EcuadorFil: Espinoza, Ximena. Hospital de Niños Dr. Roberto del Río; ChileFil: Gassant, Pascale Yola. Hôpital Saint-Damien; HaitíFil: Quintero, Karina. Children's Hospital Dr Jose Renan Esquivel; PanamáFil: Fuentes Alabi, Soad. Hospital Nacional de Niños Benjamin Bloom; El SalvadorFil: Velasquez, Thelma. No especifíca;Fil: Fu, Ligia. Hospital Escuela de Tegucigalpa; HondurasFil: Gamboa, Yessika. National Children's Hospital; Costa RicaFil: Quintana, Juan. Clinica Las Condes; ChileFil: Castiglioni, Mariela. Hospital Pereira Rossell; UruguayFil: Nuñez, Cesar. Children's Cancer Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Moreno, Arturo. Hospital Universitario de Puebla; MéxicoFil: Luna Fineman, Sandra. State University of Colorado at Boulder; Estados UnidosFil: Luciani, Silvana. Pan American Health Organization; Estados UnidosFil: Chantada, Guillermo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Gobierno de la Ciudad de Buenos Aires. Hospital de Pediatría "Juan P. Garrahan"; Argentina. Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona; Españ

Factors influencing treatment decision‐making for cancer patients in low‐ and middle‐income countries: A scoping review

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

Pediatric Oncology Palliative Care Programs in Central America: Pathways to Success

Palliative care offers children who have life-limiting and life-threatening oncologic illnesses and their families improved quality of life. In some instances, impeccable symptom control can lead to improved survival. Cultural and financial barriers to palliative care in oncology patients occur in all countries, and those located in Central America are no exception. In this article, we summarize how the programs participating in the Asociación de Hemato-Oncólogos Pediatras de Centro America (AHOPCA) have developed dedicated oncology palliative care programs. The experience in Guatemala, El Salvador, Costa Rica, Panama, Dominican Republic and Haiti is detailed, with a focus on history, the barriers that have impeded progress, and achievements. Future directions, which, of course, may be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, are described as well