Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38096463›Full record

ArticleJCO global oncology2023

Cancer Research in Vulnerable Populations: A Call for Collaboration and Sustainability From MENAT Countries.

Marwan Tolba, Mac Skelton, Zahi Abdul Sater, Ibtihal Fadhil, Ali Al-Zahrani, Tezer Kutluk, Kamal Akbarov, Ali Taher, Richard Sullivan, Layth Mula-Hussain

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JCO global oncology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
1.7field-weighted citation impact, top 9% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed, 3 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 8 institutions in 7 countries.

Marwan TolbaDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Dalhousie University, and Cape Breton Cancer Center, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2812-7348
Mac SkeltonInstitute of Regional and International Studies, American University of Iraq, Sulaimani, Iraq.ORCID 0000-0002-0302-5209
Zahi Abdul SaterCollege of Public Health, Phoenicia University, Mazraat El Daoudiyeh, Lebanon.ORCID 0000-0002-0340-1657
Ibtihal FadhilEastern Mediterranean NCD Alliance, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Ali Al-ZahraniKing Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Tezer KutlukDepartment of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Oncology, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine & Cancer Institute, Ankara, Turkey.ORCID 0000-0002-1918-4407
Kamal AkbarovDivision of Human Health, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, Austria.
Ali TaherHematology & Oncology, Naef K. Basile Cancer Institute, American University of Beirut Medical Center, Beirut, Lebanon.
Richard SullivanKing's College London & Guy's Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Global Oncology Group & Institute of Cancer Policy, Centre for Conflict & Health Research, London, United Kingdom.ORCID 0000-0002-6435-1825
Layth Mula-HussainDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Dalhousie University, and Cape Breton Cancer Center, Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-0218-7270
Cape Breton University · CAAmerican University of Beirut · LBAmerican University of Beirut Medical Center · LBAmerican University of Iraq Sulaimani · IQHacettepe University · TRInternational Atomic Energy Agency · ATKing Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre · SAKing's College London · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeCancer is a major burden across Middle East, North Africa, Türkiye (MENAT). Many MENAT countries experience multiple conflicts that compound vulnerabilities, but little research investigates the linkages between vulnerability and cancer research. This study examines the current level and the potential for cancer research among vulnerable populations in the MENAT region, aiming to provide direction toward developing a research agenda on the region's vulnerable populations.

methodsExpert-driven meetings were arranged among the 10 authors. After obtaining institutional review board approval, a self-administered online survey questionnaire was circulated to more than 500 cancer practitioners working in 22 MENAT countries.

resultsTwo hundred sixteen cancer practitioners across the MENAT region responded. Fifty percent of the respondents identified clinical research in vulnerable patients with cancer as a significant issue; 21.8% reported previous research experience that included vulnerable populations, and 60% reported encountering vulnerable populations in their daily clinical practice. The main barriers to conducting research were lack of funding (60%), protected time (42%), and research training (35%). More than half of the respondents believed that wars/conflicts constituted an important source of vulnerability. The most vulnerable cancer populations were the elderly, palliative/terminally ill, those with concomitant mental health-related issues, those with other chronic illnesses, and socioeconomically deprived patients.

conclusionResults support that a major effort is needed to improve cancer research among vulnerable cancer populations in the MENAT region. We call for interdisciplinary research that accounts for the region's unique, compounding, and cumulative forms of vulnerability. This cancer research agenda on different vulnerable populations must balance sociobehavioral studies that explore sociopolitical barriers to quality care and clinical studies that gauge and refine treatment protocols. Building a research agenda through collaboration and solidarity with international partners is prime time.

Indexed as

NeoplasmsAfrica, NorthernAgedHumansMiddle EastSurveys and Questionnaires

Identifiers

PMID38096463
PMCPMC10730041
OpenAlexW4389745620

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.