Abstract
Cancer is a rising cause of morbidity and mortality in resource-constrained settings. Few places in the developing world have cancer care experts and infrastructure for caring for cancer patients; therefore, it is imperative to develop this infrastructure and expertise. A critical component of cancer care, rarely addressed in the published literature, is cancer nursing. This report describes an effort to develop cancer nursing subspecialty knowledge and skills in support of a growing resource-constrained comprehensive cancer care program in Western Kenya. This report highlights the context of cancer care delivery in a resource-constrained setting, and describes one targeted intervention to further develop the skill set and knowledge of cancer care providers, as part of collaboration between developed world academic institutions and a medical school and governmental hospital in Western Kenya. Based on observations of current practice, practice setting, and resource limitations, a pragmatic curriculum for cancer care nursing was developed and implemented.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
References
Lingwood RJ, Boyle P, Milburn A et al (2008) The challenge of cancer control in Africa. Nat Rev Cancer 8(5):398–403
Reeler AV, Sikora K, Solomon B (2008) Overcoming challenges of cancer treatment programmes in developing countries: a sustainable breast cancer initiative in Ethiopia. Clin Oncol 20(2):191–198
Howard SC, Pedrosa M, Lins M et al (2004) Establishment of a pediatric oncology program and outcomes of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a resource-poor area. JAMA 291(20):2471–2475
Day S, Dycus P, Chismark E, McKeon L (2008) Quality assessment of pediatric oncology nursing care in a Central American country: findings, recommendations, and preliminary outcomes. Pediatr Nurs 34(5):367–373
Donahue N, Wilimas J, Urbina C, de Grimaldi G, Ribeiro R (2002) International hematology-oncology nursing education in Latin America. J Pediatr Oncol Nurs 19(3):79–83
Knowles RS, Virden JE (1980) Handling of injectable antineoplastic agents. Br Med J 281(6240):589–591
Selevan SG, Lindbohm ML, Hornung RW, Hemminki K (1985) A study of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs and fetal loss in nurses. N Engl J Med 313(19):1173–1178
Valanis B, Vollmer W, Labuhn K, Glass A (1997) Occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents and self-reported infertility among nurses and pharmacists. J Occup Environ Med 39(6):574–580
Valanis B, Vollmer WM, Labuhn K, Glass A, Corelle C (1992) Antineoplastic drug handling protection after OSHA guidelines. Comparison by profession, handling activity, and work site. J Occup Med 34(2):149–155
Valanis B, Vollmer WM, Steele P (1999) Occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents: self-reported miscarriages and stillbirths among nurses and pharmacists. J Occup Environ Med 41(8):632–638
Valanis BG, Vollmer WM, Labuhn KT, Glass AG (1993) Association of antineoplastic drug handling with acute adverse effects in pharmacy personnel. Am J Hosp Pharm 50(3):455–462
Yodaiken RE, Bennett D (1986) OSHA work-practice guidelines for personnel dealing with cytotoxic (antineoplastic) drugs. Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Am J Hosp Pharm 43(5):1193–1204
McMillan SC, Heusinkveld K, Chai S, Miller Murphy C, Huang CY (2002) Revising the blueprint for the Oncology Certified Nurse (OCN®) examination: a role delineation study. Oncol Nurs Forum 29(9):1
Jacobson JO, Polovich M, McNiff KK et al (2009) American Society of Clinical Oncology/Oncology Nursing Society chemotherapy administration safety standards. J Clin Oncol 27(32):5469–5475
Wools-Kaloustian K, Kimaiyo S, Diero L et al (2006) Viability and effectiveness of large-scale HIV treatment initiatives in sub-Saharan Africa: experience from western Kenya. AIDS 20(1):41–8
Einterz RM, Kelley CR, Mamlin JJ, Van Reken DE (1995) Partnerships in international health. The Indiana University-Moi University experience. Infect Dis Clin North Am 9(2):453–5
Einterz RM, Kimaiyo S, Mengech HNK et al (2007) Responding to the HIV pandemic: the power of an academic medical partnership. Acad Med 82(8):812–8
Palmer-Wickham S, Beattie K, Boudreau A, Fitch M (2010) Schering Plough Lecture 2009. The twinning experience: meaning of an educational program for nurses in Kenya. Can Oncol Nurs J 20(3):129–142
Rao K, Gregory K, Strother RM (2010) Oncology competency development and training in resource-poor settings: experiences in Western Kenya. J Oncol Pharm Pract 16(2 Suppl):5–35
Kav S, Johnson J, Rittenberg C et al (2008) Role of the nurse in patient education and follow-up of people receiving oral chemotherapy treatment: an international survey. Support Care Cancer 16(9):1075–1083
Wittenberg-Lyles E, Goldsmith J, Ragan S (2011) The shift to early palliative care. Clin J Oncol Nurs 15(3):304–310
Bakitas M, Bishop MF, Caron P, Stephens L (2010) Developing successful models of cancer palliative care services. Semin Oncol Nurs 26(4):266–284
Comb J (2003) Role of the stoma care nurse: patients with cancer and colostomy. Br J Nurs 12(14):852–856
Acknowledgments
AMPATH is supported by USAID, and AMPATH-Oncology has been supported by the Levinson Family Foundation, the Walther Cancer Foundation, Eli Lilly and Co., Roche Pharmaceuticals, and Pfizer.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Strother, R.M., Fitch, M., Kamau, P. et al. Building cancer nursing skills in a resource-constrained government hospital. Support Care Cancer 20, 2211–2215 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1482-z
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-012-1482-z