Francisco Pedrosa1, Faisal Shaikh2, Gaston Rivera3, Raul Ribeiro3, Ibrahim Qaddoumi3. 1. 1 Department of Oncology, Instituto Materno-Infantil de Pernambuco , Recife, Brazil . 2. 2 Department of Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell University , New York, New York. 3. 3 Department of Global Pediatric Medicine, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital , Memphis, Tennessee.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: A gap in childhood cancer outcomes remains between developed and developing countries. Persistence of this gap may be caused by financial, social, or educational disparities. Twinning and distance learning initiatives may improve such disparities. Integrating telemedicine into pediatric oncology twinning programs enhances education and facilitates patient-centered capacity building. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an analysis of Web-based meetings held from August 2005 through July 2009 between the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP) in Recife, Brazil. We determined the effect of these online conferences on the development and implementation of an innovative protocol for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at IMIP. RESULTS: Meetings occurred in 45 months of the 48-month study period with an average of two meetings per month. A total of 163 new patients were discussed during the study period; we retrieved documentation of patient-related discussions for 147 of them, constituting 286 discussions. On average, each patient was discussed 1.9 times (range, 1-15 discussions/patient). Compared with that of the era predating the online meetings (1993-2005), overall mortality, early death, and relapse of patients with ALL decreased after the telemedicine program was instituted at IMIP. DISCUSSION: Personal dedication and institutional support are essential for successful telemedicine initiatives. Documentation and archival of meetings are important for accurately measuring outcomes and developing methods for improved care. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of telemedicine into twinning programs facilitates communication about interventions, leading to improved outcomes of pediatric patients with cancer.
BACKGROUND: A gap in childhood cancer outcomes remains between developed and developing countries. Persistence of this gap may be caused by financial, social, or educational disparities. Twinning and distance learning initiatives may improve such disparities. Integrating telemedicine into pediatric oncology twinning programs enhances education and facilitates patient-centered capacity building. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed an analysis of Web-based meetings held from August 2005 through July 2009 between the International Outreach Program at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and the Instituto Materno Infantil de Pernambuco (IMIP) in Recife, Brazil. We determined the effect of these online conferences on the development and implementation of an innovative protocol for children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at IMIP. RESULTS: Meetings occurred in 45 months of the 48-month study period with an average of two meetings per month. A total of 163 new patients were discussed during the study period; we retrieved documentation of patient-related discussions for 147 of them, constituting 286 discussions. On average, each patient was discussed 1.9 times (range, 1-15 discussions/patient). Compared with that of the era predating the online meetings (1993-2005), overall mortality, early death, and relapse of patients with ALL decreased after the telemedicine program was instituted at IMIP. DISCUSSION: Personal dedication and institutional support are essential for successful telemedicine initiatives. Documentation and archival of meetings are important for accurately measuring outcomes and developing methods for improved care. CONCLUSIONS: Integration of telemedicine into twinning programs facilitates communication about interventions, leading to improved outcomes of pediatric patients with cancer.
Authors: Ahmad S Alfaar; Sherif Kamal; Sherif Abouelnaga; William L Greene; Yuri Quintana; Raul C Ribeiro; Ibrahim A Qaddoumi Journal: Telemed J E Health Date: 2012-06-05 Impact factor: 3.536
Authors: Anna Maria Testi; Salma Abbas Al-Hadad; Mazin Faisal Farhan Al-Jadiry; Maria Luisa Moleti; Franco Mandelli; Robin Foà Journal: Haematologica Date: 2006-03-01 Impact factor: 9.941
Authors: H P Wagner; I Dingeldein-Bettler; W Berchthold; A R Lüthy; A Hirt; H J Plüss; D Beck; M Wyss; E Signer; P Imbach Journal: Med Pediatr Oncol Date: 1995-05
Authors: Ibrahim Qaddoumi; Ibrahim Nawaiseh; Mustafa Mehyar; Bassem Razzouk; Barrett G Haik; Saamir Kharma; Imad Jaradat; Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo; Matthew W Wilson Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2008-08 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Gaston K Rivera; Juan Quintana; Milena Villarroel; Victor M Santana; Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo; Michael D Neel; George Velez; Raul C Ribeiro; Najat C Daw Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2008-06 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Martina Chirra; Luca Marsili; Linsdey Wattley; Leonard L Sokol; Elizabeth Keeling; Simona Maule; Gabriele Sobrero; Carlo Alberto Artusi; Alberto Romagnolo; Maurizio Zibetti; Leonardo Lopiano; Alberto J Espay; Ahmed Z Obeidat; Aristide Merola Journal: Telemed J E Health Date: 2018-08-23 Impact factor: 3.536
Authors: Mohammad H Abu Arja; Joseph R Stanek; Andrés E Morales La Madrid; Alvaro Lassaletta; Ute Bartels; Ibrahim Qaddoumi; Jonathan L Finlay; Diana S Osorio Journal: Childs Nerv Syst Date: 2018-11-14 Impact factor: 1.475