An analysis of survivorship care strategies in national cancer control plans in Africa

Authors

Elise M. Garton, Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA. elise.garton@nih.gov.
Zipporah Ali, Kenya Hospices and Palliative Care Association, Nairobi, Kenya.
Mishka Kohli Cira, Center for Global Health, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
Laura Haskins, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Paul B. Jacobsen, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.
Anthony Kayiira, Department of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Mulago National Referral Hospital, Specialized Women and Neonatal Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
Nwamaka Lasebikan, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Tonia Onyeka, Dept. of Anesthesia/Pain & Palliative Care Unit, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Ituku-Ozalla Campus, Enugu, Nigeria.
Yannick Romero, Union for International Cancer Control, Geneva, Switzerland.
Sylvia Shirima, George Washington University, Washington, D.C, USA.
Zuzanna Tittenbrun, Union for International Cancer Control, Geneva, Switzerland.
Michelle A. Mollica, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, MD, USA.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2023

Journal

Journal of cancer survivorship : research and practice

Volume

17

Issue

3

DOI

10.1007/s11764-022-01320-x

Keywords

Africa; Cancer survivorship; NCCPs; National cancer control plans

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.

APA Citation

Garton, Elise M.; Ali, Zipporah; Cira, Mishka Kohli; Haskins, Laura; Jacobsen, Paul B.; Kayiira, Anthony; Lasebikan, Nwamaka; Onyeka, Tonia; Romero, Yannick; Shirima, Sylvia; Tittenbrun, Zuzanna; and Mollica, Michelle A., "An analysis of survivorship care strategies in national cancer control plans in Africa" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 2827.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2827

Department

Public Health Student Works