TY - JOUR

T1 - Exploring the contribution of cancer palliative care development toward alleviating the human crisis of suffering in low- and middle-income countries

T2 - A framework synthesis protocol

AU - Atreya, S.

AU - Rao, A.

AU - Dhyani, V.S.

AU - Mathew, M.

AU - Gursahani, R.

AU - Simha, S.

AU - Preston, N.

AU - Walshe, C.

AU - Salins, N.

PY - 2024/10/31

Y1 - 2024/10/31

N2 - ObjectivesInadequate access to cancer care, high mortality, and out-of-pocket expenditure contribute to health-related suffering in low- and middle-income countries, making palliative care a relevant option. How palliative care development has alleviated suffering is not systematically studied, necessitating this review’s conduct. The objective of this systematic review with a framework synthesis approach is to identify and map the dimensions and indicators of cancer palliative care development and the components of integration between cancer and palliative care in LMICs.MethodsUni- and multi-disciplinary databases like Cochrane, MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, and PsycINFO will be systematically searched for eligible studies exploring cancer palliative care development in LMICs and their contribution to alleviating health-related suffering in the cancer context. Our selection process will encompass countries classified by the World Bank as low-income (26 countries), lower-income (54 countries), and upper-middle-income (54 countries).ResultsReview findings will be synthesised and analysed using a best-fit framework synthesis method using 2 frameworks (the WHO model of components and indicators for palliative care development and integration elements between oncology and palliative care), and the findings will be developed as themes and subthemes, and patterns interpreted using these 2 models.Significance of resultsThis review will analyse the development of cancer palliative care in LMICs. It will identify gaps in provision, solutions derived at the regional level to address them, and best practices and failed models with reasons underpinning them.

AB - ObjectivesInadequate access to cancer care, high mortality, and out-of-pocket expenditure contribute to health-related suffering in low- and middle-income countries, making palliative care a relevant option. How palliative care development has alleviated suffering is not systematically studied, necessitating this review’s conduct. The objective of this systematic review with a framework synthesis approach is to identify and map the dimensions and indicators of cancer palliative care development and the components of integration between cancer and palliative care in LMICs.MethodsUni- and multi-disciplinary databases like Cochrane, MEDLINE (PubMed), EMBASE, CINAHL Complete, and PsycINFO will be systematically searched for eligible studies exploring cancer palliative care development in LMICs and their contribution to alleviating health-related suffering in the cancer context. Our selection process will encompass countries classified by the World Bank as low-income (26 countries), lower-income (54 countries), and upper-middle-income (54 countries).ResultsReview findings will be synthesised and analysed using a best-fit framework synthesis method using 2 frameworks (the WHO model of components and indicators for palliative care development and integration elements between oncology and palliative care), and the findings will be developed as themes and subthemes, and patterns interpreted using these 2 models.Significance of resultsThis review will analyse the development of cancer palliative care in LMICs. It will identify gaps in provision, solutions derived at the regional level to address them, and best practices and failed models with reasons underpinning them.

U2 - 10.1017/S1478951524001214

DO - 10.1017/S1478951524001214

M3 - Journal article

VL - 22

SP - 1489

EP - 1495

JO - Palliative and Supportive Care

JF - Palliative and Supportive Care

SN - 1478-9515

IS - 5

ER -