Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Introduction: Palliative radiotherapy is essential for managing bone metastases, providing effective pain relief, and improving quality of life. While multiple fractions of radiotherapy are commonly used in high-income countries, randomized studies have established single-fraction palliative radioth...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Erika Galietta, Costanza M. Donati, Maria Vadala’, Francesco Cellini, Von Kaganda Bomboka, Romina Rossi, Milly Buwenge, Tigeneh Wondemagegnehu, Biniyam Tefera Deressa, A.F.M. Kamal Uddin, Mostafa A. Sumon, Marco Maltoni, Alessio G. Morganti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mary Ann Liebert 2025-01-01
Series:Palliative Medicine Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0085
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850030898680954880
author Erika Galietta
Costanza M. Donati
Maria Vadala’
Francesco Cellini
Von Kaganda Bomboka
Romina Rossi
Milly Buwenge
Tigeneh Wondemagegnehu
Biniyam Tefera Deressa
A.F.M. Kamal Uddin
Mostafa A. Sumon
Marco Maltoni
Alessio G. Morganti
author_facet Erika Galietta
Costanza M. Donati
Maria Vadala’
Francesco Cellini
Von Kaganda Bomboka
Romina Rossi
Milly Buwenge
Tigeneh Wondemagegnehu
Biniyam Tefera Deressa
A.F.M. Kamal Uddin
Mostafa A. Sumon
Marco Maltoni
Alessio G. Morganti
author_sort Erika Galietta
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Palliative radiotherapy is essential for managing bone metastases, providing effective pain relief, and improving quality of life. While multiple fractions of radiotherapy are commonly used in high-income countries, randomized studies have established single-fraction palliative radiotherapy as an equally effective standard for uncomplicated painful bone metastases. Despite its proven effectiveness, there is still some reluctance to adopt single-fraction palliative radiotherapy in high-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries, single-fraction palliative radiotherapy can address many challenges, such as limited resources and difficulties in delivering cancer care, by reducing the number of treatment sessions and improving patient accessibility. However, barriers to single-fraction palliative radiotherapy adoption in low- and middle-income countries remain. Materials and Methods: This narrative review examines the barriers to single-fraction palliative radiotherapy adoption for bone metastases in low- and middle-income countries and explores possible solutions. Results: It highlights the effectiveness and benefits of single-fraction palliative radiotherapy in resource-limited settings and emphasizes the need for a tailored approach that includes policy development, clinical guidelines, training, research, and community engagement. Conclusions: Ultimately, this collaborative effort can improve palliative care and patient outcomes, regardless of location or economic conditions.
format Article
id doaj-art-30025aae3a9849af8a2437d23e53573f
institution DOAJ
issn 2689-2820
language English
publishDate 2025-01-01
publisher Mary Ann Liebert
record_format Article
series Palliative Medicine Reports
spelling doaj-art-30025aae3a9849af8a2437d23e53573f2025-08-20T02:59:07ZengMary Ann LiebertPalliative Medicine Reports2689-28202025-01-016112212810.1089/pmr.2024.0085Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income CountriesErika Galietta0Costanza M. Donati1Maria Vadala’2Francesco Cellini3Von Kaganda Bomboka4Romina Rossi5Milly Buwenge6Tigeneh Wondemagegnehu7Biniyam Tefera Deressa8A.F.M. Kamal Uddin9Mostafa A. Sumon10Marco Maltoni11Alessio G. Morganti12Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.Nuclear Medicine, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.Dipartimento di Scienze Radiologiche, Radioterapiche ed Ematologiche, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli, IRCCS, UOC di Radioterapia, Roma, Italy.Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum—Bologna University, Bologna, Italy.Radiotherapy Department, IRCCS Istituto Romagnolo per lo Studio dei Tumori “Dino Amadori” (IRST), Meldola, Italy.Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum—Bologna University, Bologna, Italy.Radiotherapy Department, Department of Clinical Oncology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, University of Gondar, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.Oncology Department, Adama Hospital Medical College, Adama, Ethiopia.Department of Radiation Oncology National Institute of ENT & Scientific Secretary Oncology Club, Dhaka, Bangladesh.Radiation Oncology, Kurmitola General Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh.Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), Alma Mater Studiorum—Bologna University, Bologna, Italy.Radiation Oncology, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Bologna, Italy.Introduction: Palliative radiotherapy is essential for managing bone metastases, providing effective pain relief, and improving quality of life. While multiple fractions of radiotherapy are commonly used in high-income countries, randomized studies have established single-fraction palliative radiotherapy as an equally effective standard for uncomplicated painful bone metastases. Despite its proven effectiveness, there is still some reluctance to adopt single-fraction palliative radiotherapy in high-income countries. In low- and middle-income countries, single-fraction palliative radiotherapy can address many challenges, such as limited resources and difficulties in delivering cancer care, by reducing the number of treatment sessions and improving patient accessibility. However, barriers to single-fraction palliative radiotherapy adoption in low- and middle-income countries remain. Materials and Methods: This narrative review examines the barriers to single-fraction palliative radiotherapy adoption for bone metastases in low- and middle-income countries and explores possible solutions. Results: It highlights the effectiveness and benefits of single-fraction palliative radiotherapy in resource-limited settings and emphasizes the need for a tailored approach that includes policy development, clinical guidelines, training, research, and community engagement. Conclusions: Ultimately, this collaborative effort can improve palliative care and patient outcomes, regardless of location or economic conditions.https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0085bone metastasesfractionationlow-resourced settingsnarrative reviewpain reliefpalliative radiotherapy
spellingShingle Erika Galietta
Costanza M. Donati
Maria Vadala’
Francesco Cellini
Von Kaganda Bomboka
Romina Rossi
Milly Buwenge
Tigeneh Wondemagegnehu
Biniyam Tefera Deressa
A.F.M. Kamal Uddin
Mostafa A. Sumon
Marco Maltoni
Alessio G. Morganti
Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Palliative Medicine Reports
bone metastases
fractionation
low-resourced settings
narrative review
pain relief
palliative radiotherapy
title Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
title_full Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
title_fullStr Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
title_full_unstemmed Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
title_short Breaking Barriers to Better Care: A Narrative Review on the Adoption of Single-Fraction Palliative Radiotherapy for Bone Metastases in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
title_sort breaking barriers to better care a narrative review on the adoption of single fraction palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases in low and middle income countries
topic bone metastases
fractionation
low-resourced settings
narrative review
pain relief
palliative radiotherapy
url https://www.liebertpub.com/doi/10.1089/pmr.2024.0085
work_keys_str_mv AT erikagalietta breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT costanzamdonati breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT mariavadala breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT francescocellini breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT vonkagandabomboka breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT rominarossi breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT millybuwenge breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT tigenehwondemagegnehu breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT biniyamteferaderessa breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT afmkamaluddin breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT mostafaasumon breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT marcomaltoni breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries
AT alessiogmorganti breakingbarrierstobettercareanarrativereviewontheadoptionofsinglefractionpalliativeradiotherapyforbonemetastasesinlowandmiddleincomecountries