Implementation of a formalized evaluation and planning tool to improve pediatric oncology outcomes in Kenya.

BACKGROUND: Survival from pediatric cancers in low middle-income countries is often very low compared to that of high-income countries due to multifactorial etiologies, including late presentation, delayed diagnosis, difficulty with accessing healthcare, drug unavailability, and treatment abandonment. The St. Jude Pediatric Oncology Facility Integrated Local Evaluation Tool (PrOFILE) was developed to map and evaluate childhood cancer healthcare delivery in individual institutions and entire countries, identifying the strengths and weaknesses, as well as opportunities for advancement of care. PROCEDURE: Using the PrOFILE self-assessment tool, selected Kenyan pediatric oncology facilities entered data into 12 modules: national context, facility and local context, finances and resources, personnel, service capacity, service integration, diagnostics, chemotherapy, supportive care, surgery, radiation therapy, and patients and outcomes. These modules are grouped into five specific components, including Context, Workforce, Diagnostics, Therapy, and Patients and Outcomes. The St. Jude PrOFILE team analyzed the data and organized the first hybrid workshop, containing both in-person and virtual components. RESULTS: Multidisciplinary stakeholders prioritized recommendations for improving care and developed smart objectives to accomplish identified goals over the following 2 years. Strengths and weaknesses of conducting a hybrid global workshop were identified. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated successful use of the PrOFILE tool to conduct a hybrid workshop and identify strategies to improve pediatric oncology care in Kenya. The voluntarily structured work groups will methodically aim to achieve outcome-oriented goals moving forward.

Partnership in fellowship: Comparative analysis of pediatric surgical training and evaluation of a fellow exchange between Canada and Kenya.

BACKGROUND: In pediatric surgery, significant differences in education and practice exist between developed and developing nations. We compared the training of senior fellows in a Canadian and a Kenyan pediatric surgery training program, and evaluated a fellow exchange between the programs. METHODS: The study was performed six years after creation of the exchange program. Areas studied included case volume and distribution, length of training, curriculum, work hours, and an estimate of service to education ratio. Perceived strengths and challenges of the exchange were investigated using questionnaires. RESULTS: Fellows at each site performed approximately 450 cases/year. Significant differences in case distribution were noted, with plastic surgery, urology and neurosurgery procedures being significantly more frequent in the Kenyan center, and neonatal, minimally invasive, and vascular access procedures being significantly more frequent in the Canadian center. All participants identified educational value in the exchange, although logistical challenges were significant. CONCLUSION: Differences exist in the training experiences of pediatric surgical fellows in Canada and Kenya, reflecting the differences in health care environment, education, and surgical practice in the two countries. The exchange program of pediatric surgical fellows tapped into this rich diversity and may be applicable to other medical and surgical specialty training programs.

Transitioning from stiff chest tubes to soft pleural catheters: prospective assessment of a practice change.

BACKGROUND: Tube thoracostomies in children are required for multiple indications and can be associated with significant discomfort. In 2010, a multidisciplinary team at our institution developed a protocol to replace stiff chest tubes with 8.5-French soft pleural catheters in children requiring pleural drainage. METHODS: Before initiating the protocol, an audit sheet was developed to prospectively capture data regarding insertion, removal, complications, and success. After 8 months of new protocol utilization, these data were reviewed, along with a retrospective review of the patients' charts. RESULTS: Twenty-three patients had 33 pleural catheters inserted over an 8-month period. Mean age was 6.7 years (1 day to 17 years). Indications for insertion were pneumothorax (24%), simple effusion (24%), chylothorax (27%), parapneumonic effusion/empyema (21%), and malignant effusion (3%). Complications included premature dislodgment (33%), blockage (15%), pneumothorax (3%), and bleeding (3%). Mean duration of pleural drainage was 7.27 days (0 to 37 days). Pleural drainage was successful in 91% of patients. CONCLUSION: Soft pleural catheters are an acceptable alternative to traditional stiff chest tubes in the pediatric population. Premature dislodgment was the most common problem. Prospective audits are extremely valuable in assessing new procedural protocols and practice changes.