Pediatric cancer care in Armenia: The results of a qualitative analysis.

Abstract

e19002 Background: In Armenia the incidence of pediatric cancer accounts for around 80-100 cases per year. This qualitative study was conducted in 2018 to evaluate the needs and challenges in a provision of pediatric cancer care in Armenia. Comparative qualitative study was conducted in 2020 to evaluate the progress in the field. Methods: Qualitative research methods were incorporated to evaluate the achievements, needs and challenges in a provision of childhood cancer care in Armenia. Semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with selected study participants including pediatric oncologist/hematologists, pediatric surgeons, who also treat cancer patients, and radiation oncologists. Purposive sampling technique and qualitative conventional content analysis methods were used. Results: Data collected in January 2020 has shown significant improvements in the field of pediatric oncology in Armenia. In the 2018 study, some of the major issues included lack of centralized pediatric cancer care, pediatric cancer registry, palliative care center, possibility of providing high-dose methotrexate, limited nursing training, multidisciplinary team approaches and use of central catheters. Within two years, majority of these problems were solved or are in the process. In 2019 all 3 pediatric oncology and hematology units were merged and the Pediatric Cancer and Blood Disorders of Armenia was created; with the support from charitable foundations all children with cancer receive free medical and psychosocial coverage; a 25 year data has been collected from all the possible sites, the first pediatric cancer palliative care is under construction, 4 multidisciplinary cancer teams were created, pediatric oncology and hematology fellowship was created at the Yerevan State Medical University to prepare for the first time "pediatric oncologist-hematologist" as a one profession. The existing major problems include very limited provision of pediatric cancer medications by the government, as well as lack of the official registration of the number of essential drugs included in the WHO list. Conclusions: Twinning programs, multidisciplinary team discussions with international experts, improvement in availability of several resources, professional development of the staff are major tools for the progress of pediatric oncology in Armenia. Poor provision and official registration of anti-neoplastic medications by the government still remain a major obstacle.