Abdul-Sater Zahi, Menassa Marilyne, El Achi Nassim, Abdul-Khalek Rima A, Abu-Sittah Ghassan, Mukherji Deborah
Global Health Institute, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Naef K Basile Cancer Institute, Faculty of Medicine, American University of Beirut, Beirut, Lebanon.
Ecancermedicalscience. 2020 Dec 10;14:1153. doi: 10.3332/ecancer.2020.1153. eCollection 2020.
Management of cancer in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is accompanied by multiple challenges including heterogeneous access to early detection and treatment options and limited implementation of national cancer control plans. Furthermore, protracted armed conflicts across the region have had dramatic effects, including disruption of healthcare systems and the migration of healthcare professionals. Strengthening capacity for cancer research has been identified as a key intervention to correct data poverty, inform policy, manage limited resources and improve health outcomes.
The main objective of this study is to gain insights into the landscape, barriers and enablers of cancer training, research and care in the MENA region.
We utilised purposive sampling to interview 16 key informants from a diverse academic, medical and research background originating from countries affected by conflicts, such as Lebanon, and from active conflict zones including Iraq and Syria.
The themes that emerged from the interviews focused on the barriers to cancer care, barriers to cancer research and training, strengths and importance of cancer research and training recommendations. The detrimental effect of conflict on cancer provision and research was a cross-cutting sub-theme disrupting cancer care provision and research due to unsafe environments, fragmented facilities, absence of drugs and migration of personnel. When asked about perceived optimal training format for cancer research, most informants recommended a post-graduate, face-to-face training focusing on cancer research methods and concepts.
This study offers a unique insight into the barriers affecting cancer research and capacity-strengthening priorities from oncologists and researchers working in conflict-affected areas of the MENA region. These data will form the base for future capacity-strengthening initiatives addressing specific regional challenges.
中东和北非（MENA）地区的癌症管理面临多重挑战，包括早期检测和治疗选择的获取存在差异，以及国家癌症控制计划的实施有限。此外，该地区长期的武装冲突产生了巨大影响，包括医疗系统的中断和医疗专业人员的外流。加强癌症研究能力已被确定为纠正数据匮乏、为政策提供信息、管理有限资源和改善健康结果的关键干预措施。
本研究的主要目的是深入了解中东和北非地区癌症培训、研究和护理的现状、障碍和促进因素。
我们采用目的抽样法，采访了16名关键信息提供者，他们来自不同的学术、医学和研究背景，来自受冲突影响的国家，如黎巴嫩，以及包括伊拉克和叙利亚在内的活跃冲突地区。
访谈中出现的主题集中在癌症护理的障碍、癌症研究和培训的障碍、癌症研究的优势和重要性以及培训建议。冲突对癌症提供和研究的不利影响是一个贯穿各领域的子主题，由于环境不安全、设施分散、药品短缺和人员流动，扰乱了癌症护理提供和研究。当被问及癌症研究的理想培训形式时，大多数信息提供者推荐以癌症研究方法和概念为重点的研究生面对面培训。
本研究为中东和北非地区受冲突影响地区的肿瘤学家和研究人员影响癌症研究的障碍和能力加强重点提供了独特见解。这些数据将为未来应对特定区域挑战的能力加强举措奠定基础。
