Abstract (250 words)
As African countries adopt the global goal of improving childhood cancer
survival to 60% by the year 2030, intentional actions are required to
improve nursing. This paper provides the perspective and amplifies the
voice of African pediatric oncology nurses. It illuminates the room for
improvement and provides a reference point for future comparison. First,
we document findings from a survey of the perceived strengths and
weaknesses conducted in 2017. The main strength was the humanization of
care, while the major weakness was lack of training follow up and
insufficient evidence to guide practice. Next, we report on
nursing-related aspects of a survey to map pediatric oncology services
in Africa. Only 21% of respondents in the mapping survey reported
having nurses who care for children with cancer at least 75% of their
time. Many centres do not have allied health workers like dieticians,
play therapists, and psychologists. Furthermore, we share African
pediatric oncology nurses’ research priorities identified in a 2019
survey. The top research priorities focused on professional practice and
psychosocial support. In a Delphi survey to identify topics for a
foundational curriculum for nurses new to pediatric oncology, 57 topics
areas were identified and grouped into 12 modules. Finally, we report a
single-question survey from 2022 to obtain the perspective of African
nurses about the state of pediatric oncology nursing across the
continent. The African nurses affirm their dedication to providing
compassionate care, however, noting their vulnerability to harm and
calling for certified training and better specialization recognition and
remuneration.
Key words: Nursing status, Africa, global initiative, childhood
cancer, pediatric oncology