Does aid reach the poor? Experiences of a childhood leukaemia outreach-programme.
Previously, we found that the access to donated chemotherapy for childhood leukaemia patients in Indonesia was limited: only 16% of eligible families received donations. After the introduction of a structured parental education programme, we examined the access of parents of children with leukaemia to donated chemotherapy in an Indonesian academic hospital. The programme consisted of a video-presentation in hospital, information-booklet, audiocassette, DVD, procedures for informed-consent, statement of understanding for donated chemotherapy and a complaints-mechanism. Of 72 new patients, 51 parents (71%) were interviewed by independent psychologists using questionnaires. Parents of 21 patients (29%) did not participate because their children dropped-out (n=10) or died (n=11) before an interview took place. Four patients had health insurance and did not need donated chemotherapy. Access to donated chemotherapy was improved: 46/47 patients (98%) received donations. Structured parental education improved the access to donated chemotherapy. Outreach-programmes may benefit from this approach. This may enable more patients from poor socio-economic backgrounds in the developing countries to receive aid and achieve cure.
Mostert
Saskia
S
Paediatric Haematology Oncology Division, Department of Paediatrics, VU University Medical Centre, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. s.mostert@vumc.nl
Sitaresmi
Mei N
MN
Gundy
Chad M
CM
Sutaryo
Veerman
Anjo J P
AJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000191:economics / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D015276:Health Care Rationing; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000458:organization & administration; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D010290:Parents; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires