Lessons to Improve Quality in Oncology Practice: Road Map to Fill the Global Gaps

Abstract

Oncology is a medical branch devoted to the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of cancer. Cancer prevalence is increasing. By 2030, the global cancer burden is expected to grow to 21.7 million new cases and 13 million deaths. Developing as well as developed nations have cancer burden, but there is a gap. Ideally, cancer management involves a multidisciplinary team composed of qualified individuals from different specialties collaborating to optimize the care. This team must follow evidence-based medicine principles, considering three questions: What is the problem? How can we manage it? And why are we selecting this pathway? To fill the gaps in care, we present 10 questions that can help those who are managing patients with cancer globally. We concluded that although there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach, adhering to basic principles can help guide provision of evidence-based patient-centered care and fill some of the gaps in oncology.

Keywords

• oncology
• quality
• road map