Advancing global pediatric cancer survivorship care: barriers, facilitators, and implementation strategies

As more children with cancer experience improved treatment outcomes across the world, challenges arise with ongoing care needs due to a higher risk of mortality and chronic health conditions compared to the general population. Addressing global pediatric cancer survivorship care, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is of growing importance. The current study used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) and the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change (ERIC) to examine the barriers, facilitators, and strategies for implementing childhood cancer survivorship care in LMICs.

Using a larger review (PROSPERO registration CRD42021242548), a total of 8,456 articles were considered. The search identified nine eligible articles mentioning determinants of survivorship care across LMICs. Data were extracted from these articles using the CFIR domains of outer setting, inner setting, and individuals. Assigned CFIR constructs were then paired with ERIC strategies using the CFIR-ERIC matching tool.

The nine studies were published between 2003 and 2020, representing the following countries: India, Brazil, Turkey, China, and Thailand. Inner setting barriers included lack of available resources-funding, space, materials, and guidelines. Outer setting barriers were related to financing, policies, and laws. Individual patient barriers reported were low health literacy, distance to care centers, and low prioritization of follow-up. No common facilitators were noted. The most feasible ERIC strategies for the barriers identified were accessing new funding, developing and distributing educational materials, developing resource-sharing agreements, and conducting local survivorship care needs assessments.

There are limited existing data evaluating childhood cancer survivorship care barriers in LMICs. Of the studies we identified, low resource availability was a frequently reported barrier. As accessing funding can be difficult, resource sharing of contextually adapted guidelines and educational materials can serve as an implementation strategy to improve survivorship care globally.

Enhancement of research efforts in resource-limited settings will address key knowledge gaps critical for implementation of global survivorship care and equity throughout the cancer journey.