Cancer Care Planning Research Articles

Cancer Care and Survivorship Planning: Promises and Challenges

Although we have made some progress in understanding long-term effects of some cancer treatments, there is still much more to learn about the impact of our treatments on our patients.

Renal cell carcinoma: assessment of key pathologic prognostic parameters and patient characteristics in 47 909 cases using the National Cancer Data Base

On the basis of the National Cancer Data Base (NCDB), we describe the disease characteristics and use of conventional prognostic parameters in a hospital-based cohort of pathologically confirmed renal cell carcinomas (RCCs). Between 1993 and 1998, the NCDB obtained 149 424 cases of kidney (and renal pelvis) cancers from registries all over the United States. This database was queried for 47 909 histologically specified RCCs. Survival outcome was analyzed based on conventional clinical and pathologic parameters reported to the database (up to 2003). Renal cell carcinoma was more common in men (male-female ratio = 1.6:1). The mean age was 62.6 years. Most (66.6%) were organ-confined (stage I/II) at the time of diagnosis. The mean tumor size was 6.49 cm. The 5-year observed survival of RCC was 62.9% for male and 68.1% for female and was 81.0% for younger than 40 years old and 64.2% for older than 40 years old. The 5-year observed survival of RCC patients by the fifth edition 1997 American Joint Committee on Cancer TNM staging were stages I, 77.8%; II, 72.8%; III, 55.0%; and IV, 16.9%, demonstrating a dramatic decline in patient survival at stage IV. By reported pathologic grade, significant stratification was achieved in the observed survival for RCC overall irrespective of histologic subtypes (grade 1, 77.8%; 2, 69.6%; 3, 48.8%; and 4, 35.3% 5-year observed survival). These large NCDB data in RCC confirm the importance of pathologic evaluation of traditional prognostic parameters of stage and grade in RCC and is a powerful resource in defining cancer patient characteristics and analysis of prognostic variables that helps influence future cancer care planning and resource allocation.

Bill on Comprehensive Cancer Care Plans Gains Traction

Bill on Comprehensive Cancer Care Plans Gains Traction

Quality measures for symptoms and advance care planning in cancer: a systematic review.

Measuring quality of care for symptom management and ascertaining patient goals offers an important step toward improving palliative cancer management. This study was designed to identify systematically the quality measures and the evidence to support their use in pain, dyspnea, depression, and advance care planning (ACP), and to identify research gaps. English-language documents were selected from MEDLINE, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health, PsycINFO (1995 to 2005); Internet-based searches; and contact with measure developers. We used terms for each domain to select studies throughout the cancer care continuum. We included measures that expressed a normative relationship to quality, specified the target population, and specified the indicated care. Dual data review and abstraction was performed by palliative care researchers describing populations, testing, and attributes for each measure. A total of 4,599 of 5,182 titles were excluded at abstract review. Of 537 remaining articles, 19 contained measures for ACP, six contained measures for depression, five contained measures for dyspnea, and 20 contained measures for pain. We identified 10 relevant measure sets that included 36 fully specified or fielded measures and 14 additional measures (16 for pain, five for dyspnea, four for depression, and 25 for ACP). Most measures were unpublished, and few had been tested in a cancer population. We were unable to describe the specifications of all measures fully and did not search for measures for pain and depression that were not cancer specific. Measures are available for assessing quality and guiding improvement in palliative cancer care. Existing measures are weighted toward ACP, and more nonpain symptom measures are needed. Additional testing is needed before the measures are used for accountability, and basic research is required to address measurement when self-report is impaired.

From rhetoric to reality: including patient voices in supportive cancer care planning

To explore the extent and manner of patient participation in the planning of regional supportive care networks throughout the province of Ontario. We consider the disconnect between the rhetoric and reality of patient involvement in network planning and co-ordination. In 1997, the Province of Ontario, Canada, established a new, regionalized cancer care system. By transferring responsibility to the regional level and to networks, the architects of the new provincial system hoped to broaden participation in decision making and to enhance the responsiveness of decisions to communities. Through a qualitative, multiple case study approach we evaluated the processes of involving patients in network development. In-depth, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were complemented by observations of provincial meetings, regional council and network meetings. The network development processes in the three case study regions reveal a significant gap between intentions to involve patients in health planning and their actual involvement. This gap can be explained by: (i) a lack of clear direction regarding networks and patient participation in these networks; (ii) the dominance of regional cancer centres in network planning activities; and, (iii) the emergence of competing provincial priorities. These three trends expose the complexity of the notion of public participation and how it is embedded in social and political contexts. The failed attempt at involving patients in health planning efforts is the result of benign neglect of public participation intents and the social and political contexts in which public and patient participation is meant to occur.

Needs Assessment for cancer patients and their families

BackgroundThe assessment of needs for cancer care is a critical step in providing high quality care and achieving cancer patients' and families' satisfaction. Instruments can be used to assess needs and guide cancer care planning. This study discusses the importance of the needs assessment, relationships between needs, satisfaction and quality of life; and reviews the assessment instruments of needs experienced by cancer patients and their families.MethodsA systematic search was conducted in MEDLINE and CANCERLIT data bases. Instruments were evaluated based on their conceptual and measurement models as well as their demonstrated reliability and validity. The authors also sought information pertaining to instruments' burden of administration and responsiveness. Measures compromised by a lack of published psychometric description were not included.ResultsThis search identified 17 patient needs assessment instruments and seven family needs assessment instruments. The development and psychometric proprieties of most of these instruments were well documented. However, data on their responsiveness and burden of administration were scarce.ConclusionsEach selected instrument meets some but not all of our criteria for validity, reliability, responsiveness and burden. It is questionable whether any instrument can be developed meeting all the requirements. However, there is still a need to continue researching and developing needs assessment instruments leading to effective intervention and improving quality of cancer care.

Continuity of cancer care

The importance of providing continuity in the care of all patients with major medical problems, such as cancer, has widespread acceptance in our current health care system. From the perspective of an oncology social work clinician, this article offers a definition of the concept of continuity of care, examines factors influencing its provision in oncology, and reviews key components in continuity of cancer care planning and implementation. It also examines some innovative efforts in practice to improve continuity.