Introduction:
Objective:
Material
and Methods:
Results:
Discussion:
Keywords:
Patient dropout is defined as the
interruption of treatment and contact with healthcare
personnel for a period of more than 30 days. To
describe the impact of strategies to reduce patient dropout
used at the Department of Pediatric Hematology/
Oncology at a reference hospital in Paraguay.
We conducted a longitudinal descriptive
study of children diagnosed with cancer at our institution
between January 2009 and August 2012. In that
period 404 patients were diagnosed with cancer, of whom
183 (45%) were from rural areas and 221 (55%) from the
Asuncion metropolitan area, while 239 (59%) lived in
shanty housing, and 165 (41%) in moderate housing, with
families headed by married couples in 102 cases (25%),
common law couples in 157 cases (39%), and a single
parent in 145 cases (36%). Families had more than 4
members in 285 cases (71%) and less than 4 members in 119
cases (29%). Family income was at least minimum wage in
103 (25%) homes and less than that in 301 (75%). Of the
total sample, 327 (81%), met the criteria for classification as
'at risk of refusal' and 77 (19%) were deemed to be at no
risk. Our efforts included 837 telephone contacts, 25 home
visits, and 11 legal actions. Patient refusal fell gradually
from 3/114 (2.6%) in 2009, to 1/132 (0.75%) in 2010, to 0/96
(0%) in 2011, and 1/64 (1.5%) in 2012. The
reduction in patient dropout in our study was possible
due to a multidisciplinary effort that targeted not only the
child diagnosed with cancer, but also his or her family and
community.Introducción:
Objetivo:
Material y Métodos:
Resultados:
Discusión:
Palabras clave:
El abandono terapéutico es definido como
la interrupción del contacto con el personal de salud y con
el tratamiento por un periodo mayor a 30 días.
Describir el impacto de las estrategias para disminuir el
abandono terapéutico implementadas en el Departamento
de Hemato-Oncología Pediátrica de un Hospital de
referencia. Estudio descriptivo
longitudinal y descriptivo de pacientes pediátricos con
Cáncer diagnosticados entre enero de 2009 y agosto de
2012. En este periodo, 404 pacientes fueron
diagnosticados de cáncer. Provienen de zona rural 183
pacientes (45%) y de zona urbana 221 (55%). Poseen
vivienda precaria 239 (59%) y vivienda moderada 165
(41%). Composición de la familia, casados 102 (25%),
unión libre 157 (39%), separados 145 (36%). Poseen más de
4 miembros 285 (71%) y menos de 4 miembros 119 (29%).
Poseen por lo menos un salario mínimo 103 (25%) y sin
salario mínimo 301 (75%). Del total de pacientes
evaluados, 327 (81%) reunían los criterios para
catalogarlos con riesgo de abandono y 77 (19%) Sin Riesgo
de abandono. Fueron realizadas 837 llamadas telefónicas,
25 visitas domiciliarias, 11 intervenciones judiciales. El
abandono disminuyó en forma gradual desde el año 2009
3/114 (2,6%), en el año 2010 1/132 (0,75%), en el 2011 0/96
(0%), y 1/64 (1.5%) en el 2012. La disminución
del abandono en nuestra experiencia fue posible, a través
de un abordaje multidisciplinario que incluye no solo al
niño con diagnóstico oncológico sino además a su familia
y la comunidad