Availability of palliative care services for children with cancer in economically diverse regions of the world.
OBJECTIVE
We assessed the availability and quality of palliative care for children with cancer according to national income per capita.


METHODS
We surveyed physicians who care for children with cancer using the Cure4Kids website (http://www.cure4kids.org). Queries addressed oncology practice site; reimbursement; specialised palliative care, pain management and bereavement care; location of death; decision-making support and perceived quality of care. Responses were categorised by low-, middle- and high-income country (LIC, MIC and HIC).


RESULTS
Of 262 completed questionnaires from 58 countries (response rate, 59.8%), 242 were evaluable (55%). Out-of-pocket payment for oncology (14.8%), palliative care (21.9%) and comfort care medications (24.3%) was most likely to be required in LIC (p<0.001). Availability of specialised palliative care services, pain management, bereavement care and institutional or national decision-making support was inversely related to income level. Availability of high-potency opioids (p=0.018) and adjuvant drugs (p=0.006) was significantly less likely in LIC. Physicians in LIC were significantly less likely than others to report high-quality pain control (p<0.001), non-pain symptom control (p=0.003) and emotional support (p=0.001); bereavement support (p=0.035); interdisciplinary care (p<0.001) and parental participation in decisions (p=0.013).


CONCLUSIONS
Specialised palliative care services are unavailable to children with cancer in economically diverse regions, but particularly in LIC. Access to adequate palliation is associated with national income. Programme development strategies and collaborations less dependent on a single country's economy are suggested.
Delgado
Eduardo
E
Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
Barfield
Raymond C
RC
Baker
Justin N
JN
Hinds
Pamela S
PS
Yang
Jie
J
Nambayan
Ayda
A
Quintana
Yuri
Y
Kane
Javier R
JR
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000600:supply & distribution; D001294:Attitude to Health; D001601:Bereavement; D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000600:supply & distribution*; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005381:Financing, Organized; D014943:Global Health; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D010146:Pain / Q000517:prevention & control; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents