Abstract
Despite the increase of cure rates in the treatment of children with cancer there
is a significant discrepancy in the outcome within Europe. Data are showing us that
there is a difference of 20% in outcomes for young people with cancer when comparing
North and Western Europe with Central and Eastern Europe. One of the most important
necessities, in order to be able to have comparable results and equitable outcomes
about inequalities, is to have the Principle Treatment Centres, meeting a minimum
level of standards and being accessible to continuously updated ‘best practice’.
The European Society of Paediatric Oncology (SIOPE) has initiated a study in order
to monitor the current situation of the European Standards of Paediatric Oncology
Centres. The results of the study showed disparities of Standards of Care in the Treatment
Centres across Europe. Therefore SIOPE initiated a project aimed at improving the
Quality-of-Care of children and adolescents with cancer and to assess the relevant
organisational aspects within paediatric oncology.
At the first European Union (EU) Conference in Warsaw 2009, an agreement was obtained
from all involved stakeholders to initiate the creation of Pan-European guidelines
entitled ‘European Standards of Care for Children with Cancer’. The guidelines outlined
in this document represent the minimum standards of care that should be implemented
at the EU level. Describing the different aspects of Care over 15 chapters and available
in more than 16 different EU languages these guidelines are used as tools for both
professionals and parent/patients groups in order to advocate ‘improved standards
across EU’.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 02, 2013
Footnotes
☆This publication arises from the European Partnership for Action Against Cancer, which has received funding from the European Union, in the framework of the Health Programme.
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier Ltd. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
