Promoting Earlier Detection of Breast Cancer in Rwanda: Scaleup in the National Health Care System

Mass General Brigham

Status: Completed

Conditions: Breast Cancer; Benign Breast Disease

Treatments: Other: Early diagnosis program combined with electronic medical record

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT04258085

2014P002688a

Details and patient eligibility

About

This observational study evaluates scale-up of a breast cancer early detection program in Rwanda that was initially piloted in a single district. Specifically investigators will examine patient volume, service delivery, loss-to-follow-up rates, and cancer detection rates noted following implementation of scale-up to 3 additional districts. For scaleup, breast cancer screening with CBE was added to a cervical cancer screening initiative, in a combined Women's Cancer Early Detection Program (WCEDP).

Full description

Investigators previously conducted a cluster randomized controlled trial of a clinician training program to facilitate prompt evaluation of women with breast symptoms in one rural district of Rwanda. Subsequently, Rwanda Biomedical Centre (RBC) has scaled up the curriculum in 3 districts, adapting the program to integrate CBE screening into a cervical cancer screening initiative. In this study, we will evaluate implementation of this combined screening initiative. Investigators will assess patient volume, services, diagnoses, and loss to follow up.

Enrollment: 17,379 patients

Sex: All

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• All women and men who are evaluated for a breast concern or receive breast cancer screening through implementation of the nationally-led early detection programs

Exclusion criteria

• None

Trial design

17,379 participants in 1 patient group

Screening plus EMR

Description:

Individuals in this group are those residing in districts where health facilities have implemented a breast cancer screening program integrated with cervical cancer screening, the Women's Cancer Early Detection Program (WCEDP).

Treatment:

Other: Early diagnosis program combined with electronic medical record