Disparities in the delivery of pediatric oncology nursing care by country income classification: International survey results

Background: In 2014, a task force of the International Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOP) Paediatric Oncology in Developing Countries Nursing Workgroup published six baseline standards to provide a framework for pediatric oncology nursing care in low- and lower-middle income countries (L/LMIC). We conducted an international survey in 2016-2017 to examine the association between country income level and nurses' resporting of conformity to the standards at their respective institutions.

Procedure: Data from a cross-sectional web-based survey completed by nurses representing 54 countries were analyzed (N = 101). Responses were clustered by relevance to each standard and compared according to the 2017 World Bank-defined country income classification (CIC) of hospitals.

Results: CIC and nurse-to-patient ratios in inpatient wards were strongly associated (P < 0.0001). Nurses in L/LMIC prepared chemotherapy more often (P < 0.0001) yet were less likely to have access to personal protective equipment such as nitrile gloves (P = 0.0007) and fluid-resistant gowns (P = 0.011) than nurses in high-resource settings. Nurses in L/LMIC were excluded more often from physician/caregiver meetings to discuss treatment options (P = 0.04) and at the time of diagnosis (P = 0.002). Key educational topics were missing from nursing orientation programs across all CICs. An association between CIC and the availability of written policies (P = 0.009) was found.

Conclusions: CIC and the ability to conform to pediatric oncology baseline nursing standards were significantly associated in numerous elements of the baseline standards, a likely contributor to suboptimal patient outcomes in L/LMIC. To achieve the goal of high-quality cancer care for children worldwide, nursing disparities must be addressed.