Tackling Health System Delays for Cancer Patients in LMICs: An Innovative Multicomponent Programmatic Intervention in Botswana

Abstract

Abstract 67 Background: Health system delays are a major contributor to poor outcomes among cancer patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Botswana, while median time from cancer-related symptom onset to first presentation at local health facility is 29 days, median time to initiation of cancer treatment is 401 days. Challenges to timely diagnosis and care include clinicians' lack of knowledge, limited diagnostic capacity, poor coordination between facilities, and socioeconomic barriers of patients that impede follow-up. We sought to develop an intervention to improve access to prompt cancer care. Methods: Participating facilities are all public health facilities (21 health posts, 14 clinics, 2 hospitals) in Botswana's Kweneng-East district as well as the national referral hospital. The five components of intervention are a) training of clinicians at primary facilities on evaluation of patients with suspected cancer, b) implementation of a standardized referral algorithm for cancer suspects, c) introduction of care-coordinator role to support patient and clinician navigation of the health system, d) use of SMS-based platform to support follow-up, e) provision of transport support for vulnerable patients. The primary endpoints are stage at cancer diagnosis and time from initial presentation to initiation of cancer treatment. Evaluation of the intervention's impact will include comparing endpoints following intervention with those at baseline and those among patients residing outside the Kweneng-East district. Results: Implementation of the above multi-component intervention will be presented, including a standardized algorithm to guide the evaluation, triage and referral of patients, an intensive one-day didactic training program that adapts curricula employed in the region, and the impact of training on knowledge. Conclusion: In conducting this study, we hope to identify effective program-based measures to reduce delays and improve cancer outcomes in Botswana. These measures may be scaled to other districts, and may be applicable to similar settings in the region. AUTHORS' DISCLOSURES OF POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST: Neo M. Tapela No relationship to disclose Malebogo Pusoentsi No relationship to disclose Kerapetse Botebele No relationship to disclose Michael Peluso No relationship to disclose Isaac Nkele No relationship to disclose Jason Efstathiou Honoraria: Medivation/Astellas, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Consulting or Advisory Role: Medivation/Astellas, Bayer Healthcare Pharmaceuticals Tomer Barak No relationship to disclose Scott Dryden-Peterson No relationship to disclose