Coordination Models for Cancer Care in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Scoping Review.

backgroundThe coordination of cancer care among multiple providers is vital to improve care quality and ensure desirable health outcomes across the cancer continuum, yet evidence is scarce of this being optimally achieved in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

objectiveThrough this scoping review, our objective was to understand the scope of cancer care coordination interventions and services employed in LMICs, in order to synthesise the existing evidence and identify key models and their elements used to manage and/or improve cancer care coordination in these settings.

methodsA detailed search strategy was conducted, aligned with the framework of Arksey and O'Malley. Articles were examined for evidence of coordination interventions used in cancer care in LMICs. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) Extension Guidelines for Scoping Reviews, which included a checklist and explanation. The PRISMA flow diagram was utilised to report the screening of results. Data were extracted, categorised and coded to allow for a thematic analysis of the results.

resultsFourteen studies reported on coordination interventions in cancer care in LMICs. All studies reported a positive impact of cancer coordination interventions on the primary outcome measured. Most studies reported on a patient navigation model at different points along the cancer care continuum.

conclusionsAn evidence-based and culturally sensitive plan of care that aims to promote coordinated and efficient multidisciplinary care for patients with suspicion or diagnosis of cancer in LMICs is feasible and might improve the quality of care and efficiency.