Impact of 10-Day Fulbright Specialist Program and Project Pink Blue Education Sessions on Medical Oncology Knowledge Among Physicians Who Treat Cancer in Nigeria

Martin, Mike G.; Chidebe, Runcie C.W.; Nwaneri, M O; Miller, Elmer S.; Okoye, Ifeoma; Esiaka, Darlingtina; Olasinde, T; Durosinmi-Etti, F.A.; Igbinoba, Festus; Adegboyega, Bolanle; Adenjii, A; Aruah, Chinedu S.; Orjiakor, Tochukwu C.; Abubakar, B M; Atuwo, D; O’Connor, Tracy

doi:10.1007/s13187-021-02130-y

Cited by 4 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Understanding the dynamics of the available CO workforce is key to improving service delivery and health outcomes in the country. 1 , 25 , 26 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Fourth, HICs should fund global oncology hands-on training, skills, and knowledge exchange programs such as the Upgrade Oncology: US–Nigeria science and technology exchange program using the Fulbright Specialists model and implemented by Project PINK BLUE. 25 Finally, the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, NICRAT, and NMA should collaboratively raise funds to offer generous research funding to COs. This strategy helped Thailand and Ireland in reversing brain drain.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Brain Drain in Cancer Care: The Shrinking Clinical Oncology Workforce in Nigeria

Chidebe,

Orjiakor,

Lasebikan

et al. 2023

JCO Glob Oncol

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PURPOSE A recent estimate indicates that Nigeria has about 70 clinical oncologists (COs) providing care for 124,815 patients with cancer and its 213 million total population. This staggering deficit is likely to worsen as about 90% of Nigerian physicians are eager to leave the country for perceived greener pastures in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, etc. Previous studies have examined general physician migration abroad; however, the CO workforce in Nigeria has been barely considered in the workforce literature. This study examined the push and pull factors to stay or leave the CO workforce and Nigeria. METHODS Using a correlational design, 64 COs completed turnover intention (TI), workload, and satisfaction measures. Multiple linear regression was used for the data analysis. RESULTS The results show that CO workload (number of outpatients attended to; r = 0.30, P < .01) and satisfaction with the delivery of CO care ( r = 0.23, P < .05) were significantly related to TI. The number of outpatients seen was also positively linked to TI. Hence, the more outpatients a CO sees, the higher the intention to leave. The United States (31%), the United Kingdom (30%), and Canada (10%) were the top countries of destinations for Nigerian COs. CONCLUSION Higher CO workload is a push factor propelling the intention to leave CO practice and relocate to other countries. Nigeria's new National Cancer Control Plan and the Federal Ministry of Health need to explore innovative approaches to attract and retain the CO workforce, which would lead to improvement in cancer survival and outcomes. Increasing the number of CO programs and positions available, improving work conditions, and introducing work benefits may mitigate the shrinking CO workforce in Nigeria.

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“…Understanding the dynamics of the available CO workforce is key to improving service delivery and health outcomes in the country. 1 , 25 , 26 …”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Drain in Cancer Care: The Shrinking Clinical Oncology Workforce in Nigeria

Chidebe,

Orjiakor,

Lasebikan

et al. 2023

JCO Glob Oncol

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“…This is in line with a previous study which identified that expert knowledge has an impact on quality of patient care at all levels. 15 A radiation oncology center should have at least a teletherapy machine, a radiation oncologist, a medical physicist, and two RTTs per 250,000 people. 8 , 16 Our results showed that there is no Government-funded RT center in Nigeria that has all the recommended workforce needed for RT services based on that International Atomic Energy Agency recommendation.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Status of Government-Funded Radiotherapy Services in Nigeria

Aruah,

Chidebe,

Orjiakor

et al. 2023

JCO Global Oncology

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PURPOSE Access to radiotherapy (RT) is now one of the stark examples of global cancer inequities. More than 800,000 new cancer cases require potentially curative or palliative RT services in Africa, arguably <15% of these patients currently have access to this important service. For a population of more than 206 million, Nigeria requires a minimum of 280 RT machines for the increasing number of cancer cases. Painfully, the country has only eight Government-funded RT machines. This study aimed to evaluate the status of the eight Government-funded RT services in Nigeria and their ability to deliver effective RT to their patients. METHODS A survey addressing 10 critical areas was used to assess the eight Government-funded RT services in Nigeria. RESULTS Unfortunately, six of the eight centers (75%) surveyed have not treated patients with RT because they do not have functioning teletherapy machines in 2021. Only two RT centers have the capability of treating patients using advanced RT techniques. There is no positron emission tomography-computed tomography scan in any of the Government-funded RT centers. The workforce capacity and infrastructure across the eight centers are limited. All of the centers lack residency training programs for medical physicists and radiation therapy technologists resulting in very few well-trained staff. CONCLUSION As the Nigerian Government plans for the new National Cancer Control Plan, there is an urgent need to scale up access to RT by upgrading the RT equipment, workforce, and infrastructure to meet the current needs of Nigerian patients with cancer. Although the shortfall is apparent from a variety of RT-capacity databases, this detailed analysis provides essential information for an implementation plan involving solutions from within Nigeria and with global partners.

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“…Awareness of the myriad factors impacting cancer survivorship in Nigeria can help clinicians better understand their patients and provide adequate referrals to other services where necessary. Also, being aware of the factors that facilitate or hinder cancer survivorship in Nigeria can ensure effective communication and coordination between oncologists and allied health care providers (e.g., psychologists, counselors, social workers, and palliative care providers) to inform cancer care and better survivorship 56 . Additionally, when clinicians recognize the factors that impact how cancer patients in Nigeria accept their conditions, seek professional help, and actively manage their health, it will improve clinicians' ability to support cancer survivors in developing disease self‐management skills 57 .…”

Section: Implications For Cancer Survivorshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also, being aware of the factors that facilitate or hinder cancer survivorship in Nigeria can ensure effective communication and coordination between oncologists and allied health care providers (e.g., psychologists, counselors, social workers, and palliative care providers) to inform cancer care and better survivorship. 56 Additionally, when clinicians recognize the factors that impact how cancer patients in Nigeria accept their conditions, seek professional help, and actively manage their health, it will improve clinicians' ability to support cancer survivors in developing disease self-management skills. 57 This is especially important for the survivorship phase, where better health management can improve cancer survivors' health outcomes and well-being.…”

Section: Awareness Of the Myriad Factors Impacting Cancer Survivorshi...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathways to health outcomes after cancer diagnosis: A systematic review of cancer survivorship in Nigeria

Esiaka,

Nwakasi,

Nnamele

et al. 2023

Psycho-Oncology

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Objective With advancements in medicine and technology, more people are surviving cancers. However, cancer mortality in Nigeria remains high. The yearly estimate is 72,000 cancer‐related deaths, making cancer one of the leading causes of death in Nigeria. The current study aimed to identify and synthesize factors that facilitate or hinder cancer survivorship in Nigeria and add to our understanding of the patterns of cancer survivorship in LMICs, such as Nigeria. Method Following preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses guidelines, a systematic review was conducted across PubMed, Cochrane, and Scopus databases. We identified 31 peer‐reviewed studies that examined cancer treatment, management, care, and survivorship in Nigeria. Results Eight themes emerged from 31 peer‐reviewed studies that examined the factors that facilitate or hinder cancer survivorship among Nigerians. They include themes such as self‐care and management, treatment options, availability of pseudo‐doctors/pharmacists, and the desire to live. The themes were further grouped into three overarching themes: psychosocial, economic, and health care. Conclusion Cancer survivors in Nigeria face many unique experiences that impact their health outcomes and chances of survivorship. Therefore, understanding cancer survivorship in Nigeria must involve studies on diagnosis, treatment, remission, surveillance, after‐cancer care, and end‐of‐life. With enhanced support, cancer survivors will have improved health, thereby reducing the cancer mortality rate in Nigeria.

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Impact of 10-Day Fulbright Specialist Program and Project Pink Blue Education Sessions on Medical Oncology Knowledge Among Physicians Who Treat Cancer in Nigeria

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 publications

Brain Drain in Cancer Care: The Shrinking Clinical Oncology Workforce in Nigeria

Brain Drain in Cancer Care: The Shrinking Clinical Oncology Workforce in Nigeria

Status of Government-Funded Radiotherapy Services in Nigeria

Pathways to health outcomes after cancer diagnosis: A systematic review of cancer survivorship in Nigeria

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