Pediatric Oncology Palliative Care Programs in Central America: Pathways to Success.

Palliative care offers children who have life-limiting and life-threatening oncologic illnesses and their families improved quality of life. In some instances, impeccable symptom control can lead to improved survival. Cultural and financial barriers to palliative care in oncology patients occur in all countries, and those located in Central America are no exception.

Measurement of health-related quality of life in survivors of cancer in childhood in Central America: feasibility, reliability, and validity.

Cancer is the commonest cause of disease-related death in children over 5 years of age in various parts of Latin America, but the survival rates are improving. This study assessed the health status and health-related quality of life (HRQL) of more than 200 survivors of cancer in childhood in the countries of a Central American consortium devoted to pediatric hematology-oncology. Patients' self-reports and parental proxy assessments were collected using interviewer-administered Spanish-language questionnaires, and physicians provided assessments using self-complete questionnaires, based on the complementary Health Utilities Index (HUI) Mark 2 (HUI2) and Mark 3 (HUI3) health status classification systems.