Strategies to improve diagnosis and access to treatment of retinoblastoma in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review.
Bruna Salgado RabeloKevin Augusto Farias de AlvarengaLuiz Fernando LopesAdeylson Guimarães RibeiroKarla Emília de Sá RodriguesPublished in: Pediatric blood & cancer (2024)
Retinoblastoma, the most common intraocular tumor in childhood, still faces challenges in diagnosis and treatment, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Identifying strategies to improve the time to diagnosis and access to treatment is crucial to enhance survival rates and preserve ocular health. We conducted a systematic review to identify interventions that have demonstrated potential in addressing these challenges. We performed a comprehensive search across databases until March 2023. Out of the studies reviewed, 21 met the inclusion criteria and were categorized into five main areas: surveillance strategies, genetic counseling, education, public assistance, and international partnership. Despite the obstacles faced, the initiatives identified in this review present acts toward improving the time to diagnosis and access to treatment for retinoblastoma. Based on the extracted data, we propose a comprehensive chain of initiatives. We firmly believe that implementing this chain of initiatives can lead to improved clinical outcomes for retinoblastoma patients.
Keyphrases
- quality improvement
- healthcare
- end stage renal disease
- mental health
- chronic kidney disease
- newly diagnosed
- ejection fraction
- dna methylation
- peritoneal dialysis
- prognostic factors
- combination therapy
- electronic health record
- social media
- tyrosine kinase
- artificial intelligence
- human immunodeficiency virus
- optical coherence tomography
- childhood cancer