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Background The Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) is a validated instrument whose use has been standardized in the Ontario cancer system to measure symptoms among ambulatory cancer patients. The objective was to examine the effect of ESAS exposure on overall survival. We hypothesized, a priori, that patients exposed to ESAS would have higher rates of overall survival than those who were not exposed. Methods This was a retrospective matched cohort study of adults diagnosed with cancer between 2007 and 2015. Patients were considered exposed if they were screened with ESAS at least once during the study period. Their first ESAS screening date defined the index date. Each exposed patient was matched randomly to a cancer patient without ESAS using a combination of hard matching (4 variables) and propensity score matching (14 variables). Kaplan‐Meier curves and multivariable Cox regression were used to evaluate the impact of ESAS exposure on survival. Results There were 128,893 pairs well matched on all baseline characteristics. The probability of survival within the first 5 years was higher among those exposed to ESAS compared to those who were not (81.9% vs. 76.4% at 1 year, 68.3% vs. 66.1% at 3 years, 61.9% vs. 61.4% at 5 years, P‐value < .0001). In the multivariable Cox regression model, ESAS was significantly associated with a decreased mortality risk (HR: 0.48, 95% CI: 0.47‐0.49). Conclusions Our results show that ESAS exposure is associated with improved survival in cancer patients. This provides real world evidence of the impact of routine symptom assessment in cancer care. We evaluated the impact of routine symptom screening, using the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS), on overall survival in cancer patients. ESAS is used routinely in clinical practice in the cancer system in Ontario, Canada. In this retrospective matched cohort study of 128,893 pairs of cancer patients, those exposed to ESAS during their care had improved survival with an adjusted hazard ratio of 0.49 (95% CI: 0.48‐0.49) when compared to those not exposed. This study provides real world evidence of the impact of ESAS exposure on overall survival which is consistent with findings from randomized trials.

Purpose Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is the most prevalent and distressing symptom among cancer patients and survivors. However, research on its prevalence and related disability in the post-treatment survivorship period remains limited. We sought to describe the occurrence of CRF within three time points in the post-treatment survivorship trajectory. Methods A self-administered mail-based questionnaire which included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Fatigue (FACT-F) and the World Health Organisation Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0 was sent to three cohorts of disease-free breast, prostate or colorectal cancer survivors (6–18 months; 2–3 years; and 5–6 years post-treatment). Clinical information was extracted from chart review. Frequencies of significant fatigue by diagnostic group and time cohorts were studied and compared. Multivariate logistic regressions were conducted to examine the associations between CRF and demographic, clinical, and psychosocial variables. Results One thousand two hundred ninety-four questionnaire packages were returned (63 % response rate). A total of 29 % (95 % CI [27 % to 32 %]) of the sample reported significant fatigue (FACT-F ≤34), and this was associated with much higher levels of disability ( p  < 0.0001). Breast (40 % [35 % to 44 %]) and colorectal (33 % [27 % to 38 %]) cancer survivors had significantly higher rates of fatigue compared with the prostate group (17 % [14 % to 21 %]) ( p  < 0.0001). Fatigue levels did not differ between the three time cohorts. The main factors associated with CRF included physical symptom burden, depression, and co-morbidity (AUC, 0.919 [0.903 to 0.936]). Conclusions Clinically relevant levels of CRF are present in approximately 1/3 of cancer survivors up to 6 years post-treatment, and this is associated with high levels of disability. Implications for Cancer Survivors Clinicians need to be aware of the chronicity of CRF and assess for it routinely in medical practice. While there is no gold standard treatment, non-pharmacological interventions with established efficacy can reduce its severity and possibly minimize its disabling impact on patient functioning. Attention must be paid to the co-occurrence and need for possible treatment of depression and other co-occurring physical symptoms as contributing factors.

Purpose Young women with breast cancer (YWBC) are an understudied population and there are limited data on risk factors for psychological morbidity early in diagnosis. We examined psychological morbidity (anxiety, depression, stress symptoms), well-being and associated risk factors. Methods A total of 845 women from a pan-Canadian, multicentre inception cohort study of YWBC (age ≤ 40) who completed Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) after their initial surgical consultation and prior to surgical or other treatments were included. Multivariate regression analyses identified risk factors (i.e. parenting young children) associated with psychological morbidity and whether coping self-efficacy was protective. Results Rates of clinically significant anxiety ( n  = 683, 69.1%) and depression ( n  = 422, 42.7%) were high but lower for stress symptoms ( n  = 67, 6.8%). Probability of anxiety was high for women with a previous history of depression (OR 2.02, P  = 0.03, CI 1.09–3.74) and working full-time (OR 1.76, P  = 0.05 CI 1.02–2.77). Whereas, pre-existing depression (OR 2.91, P  = 0.01, CI 1.36–6.01), younger children (age ≤ 10) (OR 1.69, P  = 0.05, CI 1.01–2.93), and income > $100,000 (OR 2.06, P  = 0.02, CI 1.18–3.64) were risk factors for depression. Coping self-efficacy was protective with a decreased risk of anxiety (OR 0.11, P  ≤ 0.01 CI 0.04–0.28), depression (OR 0.03, P  ≤ .01, CI 0.01–0.16), stress symptoms (OR 0.17, P  ≤ .01, CI 0.04–0.65) and higher psychosocial well-being with a gain of 19.68 points ( P  < 0.01) for high levels of CSE (> mean plus 1 SD). Those with lower levels of neurosis had less negative outcomes. Conclusion Young women with breast cancer are vulnerable to psychological morbidity early in diagnosis, particularly those with low coping self-efficacy and may benefit from earlier supportive care.

ObjectivesIn this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Chinese adults, describe the disease components and compare utility of the existing international criteria and Chinese diagnostic criteria.Design, setting and participantsA retrospective database analysis was conducted for one hospital in Zhejiang province, China. We analysed data (collected in 2017) from a total of 64 902 participants (37 500 males and 27 402 females), aged between 18 and 97 years, and who met the eligibility criteria.Main outcome measuresWe employed three criteria for MetS proposed by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2005, the 2009 Joint Scientific Statement (harmonising criteria) and the China Diabetes Society (CDS) in 2013 to detect prevalence of MetS. Specifically, we analysed waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, plasma triglycerides and plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol.ResultsWe found an estimated age-adjusted MetS prevalence of 20.4% using IDF 2005, 30.0% based on harmonising criteria 2009 and 16.3% under the CDS 2013. This prevalence was higher in males, older adults and increased body mass index. Analysis of agreements among the criteria were 87.2% (IDF and CDS), 87.1% (IDF and harmonising criteria) and 81.6% (CDS and harmonising criteria), while their kappa coefficients were 0.641, 0.708 and 0.572 for IDF versus CDS, IDF versus harmonising criteria and CDS versus harmonising criteria, respectively. The most prevalent MetS component was abdominal obesity (50.1%), followed by dyslipidaemia (49.5%) and hypertension (46.8%) using harmonising criteria.ConclusionThese findings revealed moderate agreement among the three criteria with utility in Chinese clinical settings. The harmonising criteria 2009 performed better in early identification of MetS in the Chinese population.

Background Cancer survivors face a myriad of biopsychosocial consequences due to cancer and treatment that may be potentially mitigated through enabling their self-management skills and behaviors for managing illness. Unfortunately, the cancer system lags in its systematic provision of self-management support (SMS) in routine care, and it is unclear what implementation approaches or strategies work to embed SMS in the cancer context to inform health policy and administrator decision-making. Methods/design A comprehensive scoping review study of the literature will be conducted based on methods and steps identified by Arksey and O’Malley and experts in the field. Electronic searches will be conducted in multiple databases including CINAHL, CENTRAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, MEDLINE, AMED, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects (DARE) (up to Issue 2, 2015), ISI Proceedings (Web of Science), PsychAbstracts, and Sociological Abstracts from January 1997 to November 5, 2018. Following the PRISMA-Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR), two authors will independently screen all titles/abstracts to determine eligibility, data will be abstracted by one author and checked by a second author, and findings will be narratively summarized based on constructs of implementation in the Normalization Process Theory. Discussion This will be the first scoping review study to synthesize knowledge of implementation of SMS in the cancer care context and the implementation approaches and strategies on embedding in care. This information will be critical to inform health policy and knowledge end users about the necessary changes in care to embed SMS in practices and to stimulate future research.

Background Symptoms in patients with advanced cancer are often inadequately captured during encounters with the healthcare team. Emerging evidence demonstrates that weekly electronic home-based patient-reported symptom monitoring with automated alerts to clinicians reduces healthcare utilization, improves health-related quality of life, and lengthens survival. However, oncology practices have lagged in adopting remote symptom monitoring into routine practice, where specific patient populations may have unique barriers. One approach to overcoming barriers is utilizing resources from value-based payment models, such as patient navigators who are ideally positioned to assume a leadership role in remote symptom monitoring implementation. This implementation approach has not been tested in standard of care, and thus optimal implementation strategies are needed for large-scale roll-out. Methods This hybrid type 2 study design evaluates the implementation and effectiveness of remote symptom monitoring for all patients and for diverse populations in two Southern academic medical centers from 2021 to 2026. This study will utilize a pragmatic approach, evaluating real-world data collected during routine care for quantitative implementation and patient outcomes. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) will be used to conduct a qualitative evaluation at key time points to assess barriers and facilitators, implementation strategies, fidelity to implementation strategies, and perceived utility of these strategies. We will use a mixed-methods approach for data interpretation to finalize a formal implementation blueprint. Discussion This pragmatic evaluation of real-world implementation of remote symptom monitoring will generate a blueprint for future efforts to scale interventions across health systems with diverse patient populations within value-based healthcare models. Trial registration NCT04809740 ; date of registration 3/22/2021.

Background Dysphagia (swallowing difficulty) is one of the most common and debilitating sequelae of head and neck cancer (HNC). Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are a fundamental component of dysphagia outcomes evaluation, as they inform treatment consequences that cannot be captured by objective clinician measures. Many PROMs for dysphagia in HNC are available, but their validity is unclear. As a consequence, the selection of the most appropriate PROM for dysphagia in HNC is complex and often based on the clinician’s personal preferences, rather than on valid psychometric properties. This protocol describes a systematic review aiming at (1) identifying PROMs specific to dysphagia symptoms, swallowing functional status, swallowing-related health status, and swallowing-related quality of life in HNC, (2) mapping them to our conceptual framework of dysphagia-related PROs, and (3) appraising their psychometric properties using the Consensus Based Standards for the Selection of Health Measurement Instrument (COSMIN) methodology. Methods Six electronic databases will be searched from inception to December 2020 for all primary studies in any language and design detailing PROM development, reliability, validity, feasibility, interpretability, and/or cross-cultural adaptation. Eligibility criteria will target PROMs for patients with HNC (≥ 90% of the study sample) with ≥ 20% of their items pertaining to swallowing. Two independent raters will screen abstract and full texts and a third rater will resolve discrepancies. Data will be extracted on study, sample and PROM characteristics, and results of psychometric testing. PROMs will be mapped to our conceptual framework. The methodological quality of included PROMs and their psychometric properties will be appraised using the COSMIN risk of bias checklist and evidence will be summarized using a modified Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) approach. Discussion This systematic review will provide a summary of existing dysphagia-related PROMs for people with HNC and a comprehensive account of their psychometric properties. We will provide recommendations on PROMs selection which will aid healthcare professionals to the most appropriate PROM based on its validity, reliability, feasibility, interpretability and suitability for clinical and research settings. Further recommendations will be made on areas of measurement property requiring further testing. Systematic review registration PROSPERO registration ID: CRD42021237877

Background With the introduction of oncogenic Human Papillomavirus (HPV) testing into cervical screening there is a renewed focus on primary prevention among high-risk groups. To date, little is known about the effectiveness of this program, and the extent to which individual-level factors, such as psychosocial health and agency, may play a role. In particular, it is unclear if knowledge of one’s oncogenic HPV status impacts on adherence behaviors amongst women with screening abnormalities. The purpose of this study was to identify if clinical, demographic or psychosocial factors predict non-adherence with recommended colposcopy follow-up. Methods This prospective pilot study included 145 women referred to a large Toronto colposcopy clinic between December, 2013 and September, 2014. Demographic, clinical and psychosocial characteristics were collected at three points in time: (1) at initial colposcopy consultation; (2) 4–6 weeks following initial consultation, and; (3) at time of follow-up appointment (within 12 months of initial consultation). Results Overall, 13% (n = 145) of the women were classified as non-adherent. Older women (OR = 0.73, p  < 0.01) and those with higher-grade lesions (OR = 0.10, p  < 0.01) were less likely to be non-adherent, whereas current smokers (OR = 22.46, p  < 0.01) were more likely to be non-adherent. While not statistically significant, variation in rates of non-adherence amongst the various HPV status groups (untested; 15.3%, HPV positive; 5.3%, HPV negative; 6.7%) warrants further study. Conclusion Findings of this study indicate that younger women, those with higher-grade lesions and current smokers were more likely to be non-adherent to recommended colposcopy follow-up. While HPV status did not reach statistical significance, the direction of this finding suggests that testing for HPV may have a positive reinforcing role on adherence to follow-up. The direction of this finding warrants further study, and potentially a practical clinical goal as HPV testing for women becomes standard of care.

Introduction: Immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of many different types of cancer, but it is associated with a myriad of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures have been identified as valuable tools for continuously collecting patient-centered data and are frequently used in oncology trials. However, few studies still research an ePRO follow-up approach on patients treated with Immunotherapy, potentially reflecting a lack of support services for this population. Methods: The team co-developed a digital platform (V-Care) using ePROs to create a new follow-up pathway for cancer patients receiving immunotherapy. To operationalize the first 3 phases of the CeHRes roadmap, we employed multiple methods that were integrated throughout the development process, rather than being performed in a linear fashion. The teams employed an agile approach in a dynamic and iterative manner, engaging key stakeholders throughout the process. Results: The development of the application was categorized into 2 phases: “user interface” (UI) and “user experience” (UX) designs. In the first phase, the pages of the application were segmented into general categories, and feedback from all stakeholders was received and used to modify the application. In phase 2, mock-up pages were developed and sent to the Figma website. Moreover, the Android Package Kit (APK) of the application was installed and tested multiple times on a mobile phone to proactively detect and fix any errors. After resolving some technical issues and adjusting errors on the Android version to improve the user experience, the iOS version of the application was developed. Discussion: By incorporating the latest technological developments, V-Care has enabled cancer patients to have access to more comprehensive and personalized care, allowing them to better manage their condition and be better informed about their health decisions. These advances have also enabled healthcare professionals to be better equipped with the knowledge and tools to provide more effective and efficient care. In addition, the advances in V-Care technology have allowed patients to connect with their healthcare providers more easily, providing a platform to facilitate communication and collaboration. Although usability testing is necessary to evaluate the efficacy and user experience of the app, it can be a significant investment of time and resources. Conclusion: The V-Care platform can be used to investigate the reported symptoms experienced by cancer patients receiving Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and to compare them with the results from clinical trials. Furthermore, the project will utilize ePRO tools to collect symptoms from patients and provide insight into whether the reported symptoms are linked to the treatment. Clinical Relevance: V-Care provides a secure, easy-to-use interface for patient-clinician communication and data exchange. Its clinical system stores and manages patient data in a secure environment, while its clinical decision support system helps clinicians make decisions that are more informed, efficient, and cost-effective. This system has the potential to improve patient safety and quality of care, while also helping to reduce healthcare costs.

Introduction Remote symptom monitoring (RSM) allows patients to electronically self-report symptoms to their healthcare team for individual management. Clinical trials have demonstrated overarching benefits; however, little is known regarding patient-perceived benefits and limitations of RSM programs used during patient care. Methods This prospective qualitative study from December 2021 to May 2023 included patients with cancer participating in standard-of-care RSM at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) in Birmingham, AL, and the Univeristy of South Alabama (USA) Health Mitchell Cancer Institute (MCI) in Mobile, AL. Semi-structured interviews focused on patient experiences with and perceptions surrounding RSM participation. Interviews occurred over the phone, via digital videoconference, or in person, at the convenience of the patient. Grounded theory was used to conduct content coding and identify recurring themes and exemplary quotes using NVivo. Results Forty patients (20 UAB, 20 MCI) were interviewed. Participants were predominately female (87.5%), aged 41-65 (50%), and married (57.5%). Data is consistent with local demographics, comprising mainly White (72.5%) and 27.5% Black individuals. Three main themes emerged regarding perceived benefits of RSM: (1) Facilitation of Proactive Management, identifying the patient’s needs and intervening earlier to alleviate symptom burden; (2) Promotion of Symptom Self-Management, providing patients autonomy in their cancer care; and (3) Improvement in Patient-Healthcare Provider Relationships, fostering genuine connections based on healthcare team’s responses. However, participants also noted Perceived Limitations of RSM; particularly when support of symptom management was unnecessary, ineffective, or felt impersonal. Conclusion This study focused on patient experiences when utilizing a RSM program while undergoing treatment for cancer and found benefits to its implementation that extended beyond symptom management. At the same time, patients noted drawbacks experienced during RSM, which can help with future tailoring of RSM programs. Patient perceptions should be regularly assessed and highlighted for successful and sustained implementation. Plain language summary Cancer and its treatment can cause patients to experience many forms of symptoms. This can have a major effect on their overall well-being: physically, mentally, and emotionally. Early symptom detection and management has been shown to significantly improve the quality of life of patients with cancer. Remote symptom monitoring (RSM) allow patients to report their symptoms to their healthcare team and receive personalized feedback and management from them, without having to leave the comfort of their home. Although previous studies have shown the overarching benefits of implementing RSM during care, little is known regarding how patients perceive its implementation. This research team wanted to gain a better understanding of perceptions patients had, whether good or bad, of RSM’s implementation while they were actively undergoing cancer care. A total of 40 patients were interviewed with patients commenting on RSM’s ability to facilitate proactive management, promote symptom self-management, and improve patient-healthcare provider relationships. Patients also had feelings that under certain circumstances, RSM did have some limitations. This study was able to help identify some of the perceived benefits and limitations to RSM implementation. This feedback will not only help to ensure the successful implementation of future RSM programs but will also let patients know that they are heard and that their feedback is pivotal.