When I say… health advocacy Hubinette, Maria M.; LaDonna, Kori A.; Scott, Ian ...
Medical education,
April 2022, 2022-Apr, 2022-04-00, 20220401, Letnik:
56, Številka:
4
Journal Article
Recenzirano
When Hubinette et al. say 'health advocacy' they encourage a broad view that invites opportunities to address social and structural determinants of health, enabling physicians to be agents of change.
AbstractThis piece discusses several ways in which providers may advocate for patients and their families that go beyond what providers usually do to help their patients. A much more expanded view of ...advocacy is suggested. Real cases illustrating all interventions suggested are presented, and each is paradigmatic of numerous others. Categories of possible options suggested for expanded advocacy include (1) providers enhancing patients' outcomes when standard treatments have failed, (2) providers taking measures outside those they usually take to benefit patients to a greater extent, and (3) providers sacrificing their own needs more than they customarily do to help their patients still further. The suggested interventions are practical and can be implemented immediately. Taken together, the interventions proposed are also aspirational.
Abstract
Cancer care in Benin is still in its inception in Benin. The first cancer registry was created in Benin in 2014. In the study of Egué et al, published in 2019, there were 1086 cases of ...cancer recorded in the cancer registry in Benin from 2014 to 2016, including 18 cases of nervous system cancer representing 2.3% and 1.2% of cancers in men and women respectively. When compared to other types of cancers including liver and prostate in men and cervix and breast in women, brain cancers appear very low. However, there is no structure dedicated to the treatment of nervous system cancers since there are no neuro-oncologist in Benin and many patients diagnosed with brain tumors are frequently refer outside our country for treatment. Rare patients undergo surgery in our country for brain tumors. Therefore, we can assume that brain tumors statistics are not really indicative of the burden of morbidity and mortality related to nervous system cancer in Benin. The need to organize the management of patients suffering from nervous system tumors is therefore necessary. In order to meet this need, we plan to set up a neuro-oncology unit in Benin in order to improve the neurosurgical management of patients with intracranial tumors at the CNHU HKM Cotonou and also to initiate research projects related to brain tumor care in Benin.
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Cancer civil society and patient groups across Africa play a major role in pressuring governments to develop, fund, and implement national cancer control plans and to keep their ...commitments to international declarations. Additionally, community cancer awareness is mainly driven by lay cancer advocates and cancer survivors. The cancer policy and legislation landscape in Kenya has largely been shaped by the civil society through consistent advocacy
OBJECTIVE
Explore barriers and enablers to meaningful engagement of cancer civil society advocates in advancing neuro-oncology in Africa.
METHODOLOGY
This is a desk review of current developments and literature in advocacy for neuro-oncology with insights and perspectives of practicing oncology nurses and civil society cancer advocates in Kenya.
FINDINGS
Cancer advocacy in Kenya has traditionally focused on creating awareness on the more common cancers, breast, cervical prostate and Gastro-intestinal cancers. Over the last 10 years’ attention has gradually shifted to access and cost of care. Cancers of the central nervous system such as gliomas, neuroblastomas and meningiomas, though not uncommon do not feature prominently in advocacy discourses. This is due the fact that they are perceived as ‘rare’, complex, difficult to explain and with poor outcomes.
DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS
There is a growing appreciation of the need to develop a framework through which civil society can contribute to the development of quality neuro oncology services. Cancer civil society organizations, neurosurgeons, neurologists, oncologists, academicians, and other healthcare professionals must work together to overcome structural barriers so that neuro oncology is not left behind in the national cancer plans. Stakeholders will need to establish guidelines with well defined mechanism for engaging, involving and acknowledging the contribution of cancer advocates in advancing neuro-oncology. This will require a cultural shift from neuro-oncology professionals to accommodate the input of lay civil society advocates.
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