A Systematic Review and Appraisal of International Early Breast Cancer Guidelines for Systemic Therapy, and a Global Physician Survey Examining Practice Patterns by Resource Setting: Potential Implications for International Health Policy
Year: 2012
Type: review
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Breast cancer is a growing international health epidemic, and patients in low and middle income countries (LMCs) have worse outcomes than those in high income countries. High quality, well-implemented guidelines help improve patient outcomes, but are often not resource-sensitive, and support therapies that may not be feasible in LMCs. A systematic review to address the content, quality, and resource-sensitivity of international breast cancer guidelines was completed. Also, a survey of global physicians evaluated the impact of resource setting on practice patterns and guideline use. Guideline use did not appear to be directed by quality (which was variable across guidelines) or resource-sensitivity (found in few guidelines). However, practice patterns were found to vary by resource setting and by continent, often due to the cost of certain therapies. In order for guidelines to better impact global breast cancer outcomes, they need to be of higher quality, more resource-sensitive, and better implemented.
Source: TSpace (University of Toronto)
Author: Sonal Gandhi
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: University of Toronto
OpenAlex ID: W2266430819