The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project

Geert O Janssens; Beate Timmermann; Anne Laprie; Henry Mandeville; Laetitia Padovani; Cyrus Chargari; Pamela Kearns; Olga Kozhaeva; Leila Kameric; Anita Kienesberger; Peter S N van Rossum; Tom Boterberg; Yolande Lievens; Gilles Vassal

doi:10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075

The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project

Geert O Janssens^*, Beate Timmermann, Anne Laprie, Henry Mandeville, Laetitia Padovani, Cyrus Chargari, Pamela Kearns, Olga Kozhaeva, Leila Kameric, Anita Kienesberger, Peter S N van Rossum, Tom Boterberg, Yolande Lievens, Gilles Vassal

^*Corresponding author for this work

Cancer and Genomic Sciences

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Abstract

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To reduce inequalities among SIOPE-affiliated countries, standard and optional levels to deliver 'Good Clinical Practice' compliant treatment in pediatric radiation oncology have been published. The aim of this project was to map the availability of pediatric radiotherapy resources across SIOPE-affiliated radiotherapy departments.

MATERIALS/METHODS: An online survey with 34 questions was distributed to 246 radiotherapy departments across 35 SIOPE-affiliated countries. In addition to demographic data, 15 general items related to the organization of the radiotherapy process, and 10 radiotherapy-specific items were defined. For each of the 25 items, sum scores were calculated per center and country. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze associations.

RESULTS: Between March-June 2019, 121 departments (49 %) out of 31 countries (89 %) completed the survey. At center level, involvement of core disciplines in tumor boards (28 %), and integration of dedicated pediatric radiation therapy technologists (24 %) are limited, while rare & complex brachytherapy procedures are performed in many centers (23 %). For general and radiotherapy-specific items respectively, a relevant variation of sum scores was observed across countries (Δ_general: ≤10 points; Δ_{RT_specific}: ≤5 points) and among centers within a country (Δ_general: ≤9 points; Δ_{RT_specific}: ≤6 points). Sum scores for general and radiotherapy-specific items were higher in countries with a high-income (p < 0.01) and higher health development index (p < 0.01). A larger annual number of irradiated pediatric patients was associated with higher sum scores for general items (p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates the disparities in organization of pediatric radiotherapy departments between SIOPE-affiliated countries and centers within the same country. Investment is needed to reduce inequalities in pediatric radiotherapy care.

Original language	English
Article number	110075
Number of pages	7
Journal	Radiotherapy & Oncology
Volume	191
Early online date	28 Dec 2023
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075
Publication status	Published - Feb 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding:
This research was supported by the joint action ‘724161/JARC’ which has received funding from the European Union’s Health Program (2014–2020).

Copyright:
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

Keywords

Pediatric
Radiotherapy
SIOP Europe
JARC
Rare cancers
Organization

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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Janssens, G. O., Timmermann, B., Laprie, A., Mandeville, H., Padovani, L., Chargari, C., Kearns, P., Kozhaeva, O., Kameric, L., Kienesberger, A., van Rossum, P. S. N., Boterberg, T., Lievens, Y., & Vassal, G. (2024). The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project. Radiotherapy & Oncology, 191, Article 110075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075

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title = "The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project",

abstract = "BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To reduce inequalities among SIOPE-affiliated countries, standard and optional levels to deliver 'Good Clinical Practice' compliant treatment in pediatric radiation oncology have been published. The aim of this project was to map the availability of pediatric radiotherapy resources across SIOPE-affiliated radiotherapy departments.MATERIALS/METHODS: An online survey with 34 questions was distributed to 246 radiotherapy departments across 35 SIOPE-affiliated countries. In addition to demographic data, 15 general items related to the organization of the radiotherapy process, and 10 radiotherapy-specific items were defined. For each of the 25 items, sum scores were calculated per center and country. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze associations.RESULTS: Between March-June 2019, 121 departments (49 %) out of 31 countries (89 %) completed the survey. At center level, involvement of core disciplines in tumor boards (28 %), and integration of dedicated pediatric radiation therapy technologists (24 %) are limited, while rare & complex brachytherapy procedures are performed in many centers (23 %). For general and radiotherapy-specific items respectively, a relevant variation of sum scores was observed across countries (Δgeneral: ≤10 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤5 points) and among centers within a country (Δgeneral: ≤9 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤6 points). Sum scores for general and radiotherapy-specific items were higher in countries with a high-income (p < 0.01) and higher health development index (p < 0.01). A larger annual number of irradiated pediatric patients was associated with higher sum scores for general items (p < 0.01).CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates the disparities in organization of pediatric radiotherapy departments between SIOPE-affiliated countries and centers within the same country. Investment is needed to reduce inequalities in pediatric radiotherapy care.",

keywords = "Pediatric, Radiotherapy, SIOP Europe, JARC, Rare cancers, Organization",

author = "Janssens, {Geert O} and Beate Timmermann and Anne Laprie and Henry Mandeville and Laetitia Padovani and Cyrus Chargari and Pamela Kearns and Olga Kozhaeva and Leila Kameric and Anita Kienesberger and {van Rossum}, {Peter S N} and Tom Boterberg and Yolande Lievens and Gilles Vassal",

note = "Funding: This research was supported by the joint action {\textquoteleft}724161/JARC{\textquoteright} which has received funding from the European Union{\textquoteright}s Health Program (2014–2020). Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.",

year = "2024",

month = feb,

doi = "10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075",

language = "English",

volume = "191",

journal = "Radiotherapy & Oncology",

issn = "0167-8140",

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}

Janssens, GO, Timmermann, B, Laprie, A, Mandeville, H, Padovani, L, Chargari, C, Kearns, P, Kozhaeva, O, Kameric, L, Kienesberger, A, van Rossum, PSN, Boterberg, T, Lievens, Y & Vassal, G 2024, 'The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project', Radiotherapy & Oncology, vol. 191, 110075. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075

TY - JOUR

T1 - The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers

T2 - A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project

AU - Janssens, Geert O

AU - Timmermann, Beate

AU - Laprie, Anne

AU - Mandeville, Henry

AU - Padovani, Laetitia

AU - Chargari, Cyrus

AU - Kearns, Pamela

AU - Kozhaeva, Olga

AU - Kameric, Leila

AU - Kienesberger, Anita

AU - van Rossum, Peter S N

AU - Boterberg, Tom

AU - Lievens, Yolande

AU - Vassal, Gilles

N1 - Funding: This research was supported by the joint action ‘724161/JARC’ which has received funding from the European Union’s Health Program (2014–2020). Copyright: © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.

PY - 2024/2

Y1 - 2024/2

N2 - BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To reduce inequalities among SIOPE-affiliated countries, standard and optional levels to deliver 'Good Clinical Practice' compliant treatment in pediatric radiation oncology have been published. The aim of this project was to map the availability of pediatric radiotherapy resources across SIOPE-affiliated radiotherapy departments.MATERIALS/METHODS: An online survey with 34 questions was distributed to 246 radiotherapy departments across 35 SIOPE-affiliated countries. In addition to demographic data, 15 general items related to the organization of the radiotherapy process, and 10 radiotherapy-specific items were defined. For each of the 25 items, sum scores were calculated per center and country. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze associations.RESULTS: Between March-June 2019, 121 departments (49 %) out of 31 countries (89 %) completed the survey. At center level, involvement of core disciplines in tumor boards (28 %), and integration of dedicated pediatric radiation therapy technologists (24 %) are limited, while rare & complex brachytherapy procedures are performed in many centers (23 %). For general and radiotherapy-specific items respectively, a relevant variation of sum scores was observed across countries (Δgeneral: ≤10 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤5 points) and among centers within a country (Δgeneral: ≤9 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤6 points). Sum scores for general and radiotherapy-specific items were higher in countries with a high-income (p < 0.01) and higher health development index (p < 0.01). A larger annual number of irradiated pediatric patients was associated with higher sum scores for general items (p < 0.01).CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates the disparities in organization of pediatric radiotherapy departments between SIOPE-affiliated countries and centers within the same country. Investment is needed to reduce inequalities in pediatric radiotherapy care.

AB - BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: To reduce inequalities among SIOPE-affiliated countries, standard and optional levels to deliver 'Good Clinical Practice' compliant treatment in pediatric radiation oncology have been published. The aim of this project was to map the availability of pediatric radiotherapy resources across SIOPE-affiliated radiotherapy departments.MATERIALS/METHODS: An online survey with 34 questions was distributed to 246 radiotherapy departments across 35 SIOPE-affiliated countries. In addition to demographic data, 15 general items related to the organization of the radiotherapy process, and 10 radiotherapy-specific items were defined. For each of the 25 items, sum scores were calculated per center and country. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to analyze associations.RESULTS: Between March-June 2019, 121 departments (49 %) out of 31 countries (89 %) completed the survey. At center level, involvement of core disciplines in tumor boards (28 %), and integration of dedicated pediatric radiation therapy technologists (24 %) are limited, while rare & complex brachytherapy procedures are performed in many centers (23 %). For general and radiotherapy-specific items respectively, a relevant variation of sum scores was observed across countries (Δgeneral: ≤10 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤5 points) and among centers within a country (Δgeneral: ≤9 points; ΔRT_specific: ≤6 points). Sum scores for general and radiotherapy-specific items were higher in countries with a high-income (p < 0.01) and higher health development index (p < 0.01). A larger annual number of irradiated pediatric patients was associated with higher sum scores for general items (p < 0.01).CONCLUSION: This survey demonstrates the disparities in organization of pediatric radiotherapy departments between SIOPE-affiliated countries and centers within the same country. Investment is needed to reduce inequalities in pediatric radiotherapy care.

KW - Pediatric

KW - Radiotherapy

KW - SIOP Europe

KW - JARC

KW - Rare cancers

KW - Organization

U2 - 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075

DO - 10.1016/j.radonc.2023.110075

M3 - Article

C2 - 38159681

SN - 0167-8140

VL - 191

JO - Radiotherapy & Oncology

JF - Radiotherapy & Oncology

M1 - 110075

ER -

The organization of care in pediatric radiotherapy across SIOP Europe affiliated centers: A multicenter survey in the framework of the 'Joint Action on Rare Cancers' project

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

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