Uganda Paediatric Cancer Partnership: Improving Outcomes of Children with Cancer
Situation:
Each year over 400,000 children are diagnosed with cancer worldwide with almost 40% in Africa. In high-income countries, more than 80% of children diagnosed with cancer can expect to recover from the illness. However, in Uganda, the three-year survival rate for childhood cancer is around 20% - 30%.
CGHP has partnered with the Uganda Cancer Institute (UCI), to establish the Paediatric Cancer Partnership to help improve outcomes for children with cancer.
Objectives:
CGHP will work in partnership with the Uganda Cancer Institute to strengthen paediatric oncology services. The key objectives are:
- To establish diagnostic and treatment pathways for children with cancer at the UCI
- To implement structures and processes to improve nursing competences and standardisation of practice
- To establish a programme of education and support for parents and caregivers of children receiving treatment at UCI.
- 650 children will have received an accurate diagnosis with appropriate treatment and supportive care plan in place
- 16 paediatric oncology nurses at UCI will be fully trained in treatment protocols and standardised care plans
- 1,300 parents/carers will be equipped with new knowledge and educational materials to support children through their treatment journey
- Diagnostic and treatment protocols developed and implemented
- Triage and Faster tools with SOPs are developed
- 16 nurses trained with 4 nurses as Education Leads.
- 75% of nurses report increased confidence in triage and SOPs
- Education sessions held weekly and attended by 1,040 families
- 3 education booklets and videos developed
- 80% of parents/carers report increased understanding of treatment
Our partnership approach will instil ownership amongst partners to ensure continuity. The train-the-trainer approach will build confidence to help embed changes. Data collection and evaluation will provide a strong evidence base to encourage broader adoption. UCI is a national centre of excellence making it ideally positioned to disseminate learning widely.
This project will be delivered through a hybrid model with two annual partnership visits. Visits will take place every six months. In between visits, regular virtual meetings will take place involving consultants, senior nurses and clinical fellows from both partner organisations to further the project activities and to provide a forum for clinical discussion, case reporting and education.
Further information: https://cambridgeghp.org/paediatric-cancer/
