Enhancing Cancer Care in Ukraine: Insights From Doctor Perspectives on Diagnosis and Treatment Quality

Анотація

PURPOSE Optimizing cancer care, including during the time of war, often begins with a needs assessment. We surveyed oncologists in Ukraine to evaluate existing gaps and describe strategies to address them. METHODS In January 2024, medical and surgical oncologists in Ukraine completed electronic surveys that were designed together with oncologists at the National Cancer Institute of Ukraine. These surveys included an open-ended question about how to improve the efficiency and quality of cancer care in one's practice. Surveys were distributed through oncology-focused social media in Ukraine. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis and descriptive statistics. RESULTS Fifty-three medical oncologists completed the survey. The most common suggestion for optimizing cancer care is improving provision of targeted cancer treatments and immunotherapy, cited by 19 (35.8%). Eighteen (34.0%) suggested ameliorating personnel shortages), while 10 (18.9%) desired an increased number of machines for chemotherapy infusion and 6 (11.3%) requested greater hospital bed capacity. Eighty-eight surgical oncologists completed the survey. The most common suggestion for improvement was increasing availability of disposable surgical kits and instruments, catheters, and drainage systems, cited by 23 (26.1%). Other common recommendations included more consistent provision of surgical equipment cited by 20 (22.72%), increasing the number of number of surgical staff cited by 13 (14.77%), improved healthcare facility funding cited by 12 (13.64%), increasing the quantity of operating rooms by 9 (10.23%), improved surgical staff training cited by 9 (10.23%), and reduced paperwork for surgeons recommended by 2 (2.27%). CONCLUSION We identified important gaps in medical and surgical oncology care in Ukraine, as well as strategies to address these from the point of view of physicians working in these areas. Results are limited by online convenience sampling.

Класифікація

Ідентифікатори

Схожі роботи