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The Role of Twinning Programs and Telemedicine in Pediatric Oncology

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Pediatric Hematology-Oncology in Countries with Limited Resources

Abstract

Childhood cancer survival rates in highly developed countries have risen remarkably over the past 50 years from <10 % to over 80 %. This has been achieved as a result of early and precise diagnosis, effective and targeted treatment, and adequate supportive care. This contrasts with the situation in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) where overall survival rates are <20 %. In order to address this gross inequity and improve chances of survival of children with cancer, a number of twinning programs, linking pediatric oncology units in resource-rich countries with units in countries with limited resources, have been established.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Guidelines adapted from St Jude: International Outreach Program—Guide to Establishing a Pediatric Oncology Twinning Program.

  2. 2.

    Many different definitions are used in the literature. WHO [1] adopts a broader definition, encompassing general eHealth: telemedicine is “the delivery of health care services, where distance is a critical factor, by all health care professionals using information and communication technologies for the exchange of valid information for diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease and injuries, research and evaluation, and for the continuing education of health care providers, all in the interest of advancing the health of individuals and their communities.”

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following for their contribution to the project “La Mascota”: Fondazione CARIPLO, Comitato Maria Letizia Verga, Fondazione Tettamanti, Fondazione Zegna, AMCA (Bellinzona, Switzerland), CONANCA and MAPANICA (Nicaragua), the HMJR “La Mascota” Hospital (Managua), St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH, Memphis, USA), and the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Pediatric Department, Ospedale San Gerardo, University of Milano Bicocca—Fondazione MBBM, Monza, Italy

    Valentino Conter M.D., Erica Brivio M.D. & Giuseppe Masera M.D.

  2. International Outreach Program, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA

    Valentino Conter M.D.

  3. DISCO Department of Informatics, Systems and Communication, University of Milano Bicocca, Milan, Italy

    Roberto Polillo M.D.

  4. Surgical Pathology, Patologi Oltre Frontiera, Desio, Milan, Italy

    Agostino Faravelli M.D.

Authors
  1. Valentino Conter M.D.
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  2. Roberto Polillo M.D.
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  3. Erica Brivio M.D.
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  4. Agostino Faravelli M.D.
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  5. Giuseppe Masera M.D.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Valentino Conter M.D. .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa

    Daniela Cristina Stefan

  2. Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Carlos Rodriguez-Galindo

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Conter, V., Polillo, R., Brivio, E., Faravelli, A., Masera, G. (2014). The Role of Twinning Programs and Telemedicine in Pediatric Oncology. In: Stefan, D., Rodriguez-Galindo, C. (eds) Pediatric Hematology-Oncology in Countries with Limited Resources. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3891-5_4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-3891-5_4

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