International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research

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Knowledge of Retinoblastoma by Healthcare Professionals in Sub-saharan Africa: Survey Performed in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Received: Apr. 25, 2020    Accepted: May 20, 2020    Published: Jun. 15, 2020
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Abstract

Diagnostic delay leads to advanced forms of retinoblastoma, compromising survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of health professionals regarding this disease. This survey was carried out among health professionals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (cities of Lubumbashi, Bukavu and Kinshasa) and Côte d'Ivoire (Abidjan). Health professionals were divided into 3 professional categories: 1) paediatricians and ophthalmologists, 2) other medical doctors, and 3) paramedics. A questionnaire adapted to each category was used. The response to each question was graded as correct or incorrect. Total knowledge of retinoblastoma for the entire questionnaire was evaluated according to a level of overall score for each health professional: score<50% was considered very insufficient, score between 50 and 75% as insufficient and score ≥75% as sufficient. Descriptive statistical analyses and association measurements were performed. A total of 637 health professionals were surveyed, including 69 in the “pediatricians and ophthalmologists” category, 180 in the “others medical doctors” category and 388 in the “paramedics” category. Globally, more than 90% of health professionals did not answer all the questions correctly, and 9% were aware of the most common retinoblastoma-revealing symptoms (leukocoria and strabismus). Overall knowledge of retinoblastoma was sufficient for 26.1% of Paediatricians and Ophtalmologists, 11.7% of Other medical doctors and 2.1% of Paramedicals. One-quarter of health professionals were aware of the two most common signs of retinoblastoma (leukocororia and strabismus) in “pediatricians and ophthalmologists” category, 14% in “others medical doctors” category and 4% in “paramedics” category. Most health professionals surveyed in DRC and Cote d'Ivoire were not aware of the retinoblastoma-revealing symptoms. This certainly contributes to delayed diagnosis and the poor prognosis of this disease in those countries.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20200502.14
Published in International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research ( Volume 5, Issue 2, June 2020 )
Page(s) 34-38
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Retinoblastoma, Sub-saharan Africa, Knowledge, Health Professionals

References
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[2] Singh G & Daniels AB. Disparities in Retinoblastoma Presentation, Treatment, and Outcomes in Developed and Less-Developed Countries. Seminars in Ophthalmology 2016; 31 (4): 310-6.
[3] Ortiz M V, Dunkel IJ. Retinoblastoma. J Child Neurol. 2016; 31 (2): 227–36.
[4] Chantada GL, Qaddoumi I, Canturk S, et al. Strategies to Manage Retinoblastoma in Developing Countries. Pediatr Blood Cancer 2011; 56 (3): 341–8.
[5] Traoré F, Togo B, Sylla F, et al. Retinoblastoma: inventory in Mali and program to develop early diagnosis, treatments and rehabilitation. Bull Cancer 2013; 100 (2): 161–5.
[6] Togo B, Sylla F, Traoré F, et al. A 30-month prospective study on the treatment of retinoblastoma in the Gabriel Toure Teaching Hospital, Bamako, Mali. Br J Ophthalmol. 2010; 94 (4): 467–9.
[7] Goddard AG, Kingston JE, Hungerford JL. Delay in diagnosis of retinoblastoma : risk factors and treatment outcome. Br J Ophtamology. 1999; 1320–3.
[8] Rahi JS, Lynn R. A survey of paediatricians ’ practice and training in routine infant eye examination. Arch Dis Child. 1998; 78 (4): 364–6.
[9] Saguet P, Lux A, Denion G, et al. Are the Ophthalmology Items of the French Health Record Realistic? Arch Pediatr. 2016; 23 (1): 14–20.
[10] Leal-leal CA, Dilliz-nava H, Flores-rojo M, et al. First Contact Physicians and Retinoblastoma in Mexico. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011; 57 (7): 1109–12.
[11] Howard SC, Zaidi A, Cao X, et al. The My Child Matters programme: effect of public–private partnerships on paediatric cancer care in low-income and middle-income countries. Lancet Oncol 2018; 19 (5): e252–66.
[12] Chantada G, Fandiño A, Manzitti J, et al. Late diagnosis of retinoblastoma in a developing country. Arch Dis Child. 1999; 80 (2): 171–4.
[13] Brown BJ, Adeleye AO, Ibeh JN. A Prospective Study on the Causes of Delayed Diagnosis of Childhood Cancer in Ibadan, Nigeria. Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2015; 32 (6): 365–73.
[14] Cecen E, Gunes D, Mutafoglu K, et al. The Time to Diagnosis in Childhood Lymphomas and Other Solid Tumors. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2011; 57 (3): 392–7.
[15] Mattosinho CCS, GrigorovskiN, and Lucena E, et al. Prediagnostic Intervals in Retinoblastoma: Experience at an Oncology Center in Brazil. J Glob Oncol 2016; 3 (4): 323-330.
[16] Waddell KM, Kagame K, Ndamira A, et al. Clinical features and survival among children with retinoblastoma in Uganda. Br J Ophtalmol. 2015; 99 (3): 387–90.
[17] Kaimbo WKD, Mvitu MM, Missotten L. Presenting signs of retinoblastoma in Congolese patients. Bull Soc Belge Ophtalmol. 2002; 283: 37–41.
[18] Ali A A, Elsheikh SM, Elhaj A, et al. Clinical presentation and outcome of retinoblastoma among children treated at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) in Gezira, Sudan: a single Institution experience. Ophthalmic Genet 2011; 32 (2): 122–5.
[19] Kruger M, Reynders D, Omar F, Schoeman J, et al. Retinoblastoma outcome at a single institution in South Africa. S Afr Med J 2014; 104 (12): 859–63.
[20] Carrim ZI, Kajaige J, Bowman RJ, et al. First-year experience of chemotherapy for advanced retinoblastoma in Tanzania: disease profile, outcomes, and challenges in 2008. J Pediatr Ophthalmol Strabismus 2012; 49 (3): 176–83.
[21] Alliance Mondiale Contre le Cancer. Early Diagnosis and Management of Retinoblastoma. https://www.cancer-amcc.org/english/programs/early-diagnosis-and-management-of-retinoblastoma/.Accessed 2020-03-27.
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    Lukamba Mbuli Robert, Monga Bondo Ben, Yao Atteby, Kabesha Amani Théo, Budiongo Nzazi Aléine, et al. (2020). Knowledge of Retinoblastoma by Healthcare Professionals in Sub-saharan Africa: Survey Performed in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research, 5(2), 34-38. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20200502.14

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    ACS Style

    Lukamba Mbuli Robert; Monga Bondo Ben; Yao Atteby; Kabesha Amani Théo; Budiongo Nzazi Aléine, et al. Knowledge of Retinoblastoma by Healthcare Professionals in Sub-saharan Africa: Survey Performed in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Int. J. Clin. Oncol. Cancer Res. 2020, 5(2), 34-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20200502.14

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    AMA Style

    Lukamba Mbuli Robert, Monga Bondo Ben, Yao Atteby, Kabesha Amani Théo, Budiongo Nzazi Aléine, et al. Knowledge of Retinoblastoma by Healthcare Professionals in Sub-saharan Africa: Survey Performed in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Int J Clin Oncol Cancer Res. 2020;5(2):34-38. doi: 10.11648/j.ijcocr.20200502.14

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijcocr.20200502.14,
      author = {Lukamba Mbuli Robert and Monga Bondo Ben and Yao Atteby and Kabesha Amani Théo and Budiongo Nzazi Aléine and Bey Pierre and Chenge Borasisi Gabrielle and Desjardins Laurence and Savignoni Alexia and Berete-Coulibaly Rokia and Couitchere Line and Luboya Numbi Oscar and Doz François and Mwembo Tambwe Albert},
      title = {Knowledge of Retinoblastoma by Healthcare Professionals in Sub-saharan Africa: Survey Performed in the Republic of Côte d'Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of the Congo},
      journal = {International Journal of Clinical Oncology and Cancer Research},
      volume = {5},
      number = {2},
      pages = {34-38},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijcocr.20200502.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijcocr.20200502.14},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijcocr.20200502.14},
      abstract = {Diagnostic delay leads to advanced forms of retinoblastoma, compromising survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of health professionals regarding this disease. This survey was carried out among health professionals in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (cities of Lubumbashi, Bukavu and Kinshasa) and Côte d'Ivoire (Abidjan). Health professionals were divided into 3 professional categories: 1) paediatricians and ophthalmologists, 2) other medical doctors, and 3) paramedics. A questionnaire adapted to each category was used. The response to each question was graded as correct or incorrect. Total knowledge of retinoblastoma for the entire questionnaire was evaluated according to a level of overall score for each health professional: score<50% was considered very insufficient, score between 50 and 75% as insufficient and score ≥75% as sufficient. Descriptive statistical analyses and association measurements were performed. A total of 637 health professionals were surveyed, including 69 in the “pediatricians and ophthalmologists” category, 180 in the “others medical doctors” category and 388 in the “paramedics” category. Globally, more than 90% of health professionals did not answer all the questions correctly, and 9% were aware of the most common retinoblastoma-revealing symptoms (leukocoria and strabismus). Overall knowledge of retinoblastoma was sufficient for 26.1% of Paediatricians and Ophtalmologists, 11.7% of Other medical doctors and 2.1% of Paramedicals. One-quarter of health professionals were aware of the two most common signs of retinoblastoma (leukocororia and strabismus) in “pediatricians and ophthalmologists” category, 14% in “others medical doctors” category and 4% in “paramedics” category. Most health professionals surveyed in DRC and Cote d'Ivoire were not aware of the retinoblastoma-revealing symptoms. This certainly contributes to delayed diagnosis and the poor prognosis of this disease in those countries.},
     year = {2020}
    }
    

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    VL  - 5
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    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Department of Pediatrics (Pediatric Oncology Unit), University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

  • Department of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

  • Pediatric Oncology Unit, University Teaching Hospital of Treichville, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Bukavu Ophthalmic Clinic, Bukavu Official University, Bukavu, DRC

  • Department of Pediatrics (Pediatric Hemato-Oncology Service), University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, DRC

  • Advisor to the President of Institut Curie, University of Lorraine and AMCC, Paris, France

  • Ophthalmology Department, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DRC

  • Ophthalmology Service, Institut Curie and AMCC, Paris, France

  • Department of Biometry, Institut Curie, Paris, France

  • Ocular Oncology and Oculoplastic Surgery Unit, University Teaching Hospital of Treichville and Felix Houphouet Boigny University, Abidjan, Ivory Coast

  • Department of Pediatrics, University Teaching Hospital of Treichville, Abidjan, C?ted’Ivoire

  • Department of Pediatrics and School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DRC

  • Faculty of Medicine and School of Public Health, University of Lubumbashi, Lubumbashi, DRC

  • Section