Quality assessment of pediatric oncology nursing care in a Central American country: findings, recommendations, and preliminary outcomes

• Published in: Pediatric nursing Vol. 34; no. 5; p. 367
• Main Authors: Day, Sara W, Dycus, Paula M, Chismark, Elisabeth A, McKeon, Leslie
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-2008
• Subjects: Central America; Continuity of Patient Care - standards; Developing Countries; Guideline Adherence - standards; Health Planning Guidelines; Health Services Accessibility - standards; Humans; Infection Control - standards; International Educational Exchange; Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations; Models, Nursing; Needs Assessment; Nursing Assessment - standards; Nursing Evaluation Research; Oncology Nursing - education; Oncology Nursing - standards; Outcome Assessment (Health Care); Patient Education as Topic - standards; Pediatric Nursing - education; Pediatric Nursing - standards; Practice Guidelines as Topic; Quality of Health Care - standards; United States; Central America; United States
• ISSN: 0097-9805

In developing countries, where 80% to 85% of childhood cancer cases occur, the survival rate is often less than 10%. The mission of the International Outreach Program (IOP) at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is to improve the survival rate of children with cancer. Essential to this mission is the provision of quality nursing care. In May 2006, the quality of nursing care at an IOP Central American partner-site was assessed using nursing standards endorsed by the Joint Commission International (JCI). The assessment provided objective and credible findings and a baseline from which nursing needs and recommendations were determined. After careful review of data, the IOP staff provided recommendations in the areas of education, staffing, compensation, and communication.