title: Health-Care Providers' Perspectives towards Childhood Cancer Treatment in Kenya.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explored perspectives of health-care providers on childhood cancer treatment in Kenya.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was completed by 104 health-care providers in January and February 2013.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventy six percent of the health-care providers believed cancer to be curable. More doctors than other health-care providers had this positive opinion (p=0.037). The majority of health-care providers (92%) believed that most children with cancer will not be able to finish their treatment due to financial difficulties. They considered that prosperous highly-educated parents adhere better with treatment (88%) and that doctors adhere better with treatment for prosperous highly-educated parents (79%). According to 74% of health-care providers, quality of care is better for prosperous highly-educated parents (74%). Most health-care providers reported giving more explanation (71%), work with greater accuracy (70%) and use less difficult vocabulary (55%) to prosperous more educated families. Only 34% of health-care providers reported they feel more empathy towards patients from prosperous families. Reasons for non-adherence with the protocol according to health-care providers are: family refuses drugs (85%), inadequate supply of drugs at pharmacy (79%), child looks ill (75%), and financial difficulties of parents (69%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health-care providers' health beliefs and attitudes differ for patients with families having high versus low socio-economic backgrounds.
authors: Department of Child Health and Pediatrics, Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya E-mail : s.mostert@vumc.nl.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Njuguna
authors: R Hm
authors: RH
authors: van der Burgt
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Seijffert
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Musimbi
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Langat
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Skiles
authors: M N
authors: MN
authors: Sitaresmi
authors: P M
authors: PM
authors: van de Ven
authors: G Jl
authors: GJ
authors: Kaspers
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Mostert
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D007630:Kenya; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology; D010372:Pediatrics; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires