Oncology Healthcare Providers Research Articles

Abstract PO5-06-10: Evaluating Disparities in Access to Quality Cancer Care for Black Women with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in the US: A Provider Perspective

Abstract Introduction: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) presents unique challenges due to its aggressive nature and limited treatment options. Black women are disproportionately affected by TNBC, experiencing higher incidence rates and poorer outcomes compared to other racial/ethnic groups. This study aims to evaluate disparities in access to quality cancer care for Black women with TNBC from the perspective of oncology healthcare providers. Methods: From December 2022 to February 2023, the Association of Community Cancer Centers conducted a survey of 84 multidisciplinary care team members who provided care to Black patients with TNBC. The online survey captured quantitative and qualitative data on challenges related to accessing timely TNBC diagnosis and treatment services, care coordination for work-up and biomarker testing, confidence in TNBC treatment, clinical trial enrollment, supportive care services, and related referrals. Additionally, a follow-up focus group was conducted in May 2023 to further interpret select survey data, with a focus on shared decision-making, patient-provider communication, and ways to support cancer programs in improving screening, biomarker testing, and care coordination for individuals with TNBC. Results: Respondents reported several barriers to accessing timely diagnosis and treatment services for Black women with TNBC, including challenges in coordinating care for work-up and biomarker testing, providers' confidence in providing guideline-concordant comprehensive cancer care services for this patient population, enrolling patients in clinical trials, and making referrals for supportive care services. The survey revealed that community cancer programs treated an average of 21-50 patients with TNBC annually, with 31% of them being Black. Perceived patient-level factors contributing to challenges in accessing TNBC diagnosis and treatment included geographic distance to care facilities (14%), health literacy (18%), and insurance-related factors (21%). Practice-level barriers included limited accessibility of practice location (19%), capacity to accommodate new patients (27%), and insurance-related factors (34%). Additional findings highlighted slightly lower provider confidence in areas such as tobacco cessation (only 54% very confident), breast reconstruction (59% very confident), fertility counseling (52% very confident), and coordinating care across a fragmented healthcare system (52% very confident). Respondents identified the most commonly offered comprehensive cancer care services as palliative care (82%), nutrition support (77%), telemedicine (68%), psychological counseling (68%), and financial advocacy (68%). Less commonly offered services include recreational therapy (21%), legal aid (17%), and childcare (16%). Conclusion: This study highlighted the barriers faced by providers in delivering quality cancer care to Black women with TNBC. The findings underscore the importance of addressing challenges related to timely diagnosis and treatment services, care coordination, confidence in treatment options, clinical trial enrollment, and referrals for supportive care services. Insights from the focus group discussions further highlight the need for shared decision-making, improved patient-provider communication, and identification of opportunities to support cancer programs in addressing the specific needs of Black women with TNBC. To advance equity in cancer care, targeted interventions should focus on enhancing provider education, improving care coordination systems, and promoting cultural sensitivity. Efforts should also be made to overcome barriers related to limited accessibility of practice location, and insurance-related factors. By addressing these gaps, providers can play a crucial role in reducing disparities and improving outcomes for Black women with TNBC. Citation Format: Doreen Effange, Niharika Dixit, Ruth O'Regan, Ogori Kalu, Ryann Norcereto, Richard Simonds, Elizabeth Valencia, LaToya Bolds-Johnson, Aubrey Van Kirk Villalobos, Christie Mangir, Elana Plotkin, Karen Tacka, Leigh Boehmer. Evaluating Disparities in Access to Quality Cancer Care for Black Women with Triple Negative Breast Cancer in the US: A Provider Perspective [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2023 Dec 5-9; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(9 Suppl):Abstract nr PO5-06-10.

KNOWLEDGE PRODUCTS TO HELP EXERCISE PROFESSIONALS IMPLEMENT EXERCISE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PEOPLE WITH BONE METASTASES: CO-DESIGN OF A HEALTH INFORMATION FORM

INTRODUCTION People with bone metastases have historically been advised to limit exercise due to risk of skeletal adverse events, such as bone fracture. Published recommendations by the International Bone Metastases Exercise Working Group (IBMEWG) emphasize regular exercise may benefit people with bone metastases; however, there are barriers to adopting these guidelines into clinical practice. For example, exercise professionals (EPs) report challenges obtaining necessary medical information about bone metastases to develop/design safe exercise programs. To address this, a Health Information Form (HIF) was developed using an experience-based co-design approach with three knowledge user (KU) groups: patient/family partners (PFPs), oncology healthcare providers (HCPs), and EPs. The aim of this study was to gather feedback from an international audience on the usability of the HIF. METHODS An online survey was advertised widely to KU groups using a social media toolkit and targeted email invitations to professional organizations. Questions included demographic information, usability of the HIF, and suggestions for dissemination. Analysis of survey responses was descriptive. RESULTS 69 respondents from North America (71%), Europe (20%), and Australasia (9%) provided feedback on the HIF. Most were EPs (54%) or PFPs (36%), and half (54%) had some awareness of the IBMEWG exercise recommendations. 81% of respondents found the purpose of the HIF easy to understand and 77% rated the content as excellent or very good. The design was rated as excellent or very good by 62% with feedback such as “… covers a lot of areas in a way that is brief and effective”. 14 respondents suggested information that could be added to the HIF (e.g., fracture risk factors, recent surgeries). CONCLUSION Overall, the HIF was well received by an international audience. The feedback provided by respondents will be utilized to enhance both the design and content of the form.

Physical activity and psychological support can replace “another pill” to manage cancer-related symptoms in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer

Physical activity and psychological support can replace “another pill” to manage cancer-related symptoms in children and adolescents diagnosed with cancer

Evaluating Wall-Mounted Prompts to Facilitate Physical Activity-Related Discussion between Individuals with Cancer and Oncology Health Care Providers: A Pre-post Survey Study.

To evaluate the use of wall-mounted prompts in facilitating physical activity (PA)-related discussions between individuals with cancer and oncology care providers. Individuals with cancer were approached to participate in a survey-based pre-post study. Half of participants (n = 100) completed a survey prior to installation of wall-mounted prompts in clinic while the other half (n = 100) completed a survey following installation of the prompts. Survey questions included content of PA-related discussion, satisfaction with PA education across treatment, and current PA level. The post-prompt survey also asked questions related to the prompt. Survey responses were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Chi-squared tests were performed to determine significance between timepoints. One hundred participants completed the survey at each timepoint. A significant difference was found pre and post-prompt in the number of PA discussions occurring overall during care (p = 0.03). Some participants (53%) were satisfied with the PA education received during treatment. There was no significant difference in occurrence of PA discussion (p = 0.36) pre and post-prompt and no difference in PA behaviour was observed (p = 0.130). Wall-mounted prompts may be effective in increasing the frequency of PA-related discussions between individuals with cancer and their oncology team across treatment. Additional strategies, such as easy referral to rehabilitation professionals, are also needed to facilitate safe and effective PA behaviour during and after cancer treatments.

Use, applicability, and dissemination of patient versions of clinical practice guidelines in oncology in Germany: a qualitative interview study with healthcare providers

BackgroundPeople with cancer have high information needs; however, they are often inadequately met. Patient versions of clinical practice guidelines (PVGs), a special form of evidence-based information, translate patient-relevant recommendations from clinical practice guidelines into lay language. To date, little is known about the experience of PVGs from healthcare providers’ perspective in healthcare. This study aims to investigate the use, applicability, and dissemination of PVGs in oncology from the healthcare providers’ perspective in Germany.MethodsTwenty semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with oncological healthcare providers in Germany between October and December 2021. Interviews were recorded and transcribed verbatim. Mayring’s qualitative content analysis with MAXQDA software was utilised to analyse the data.ResultsA total of 20 healthcare providers (14 female, 6 male), mainly working as psychotherapists/psycho-oncologists and physicians, participated. Most participants (75%) were aware of the existence of PVGs. The content was predominantly perceived as comprehensible and relevant, whereas opinions on the design and format were mixed. The perceived lack of up-to-date information limited participants’ trust in the content. Most felt that PVGs positively impact healthcare owing to the fact that they improve patients’ knowledge about their disease. Additionally, PVGs served as a guide and helped healthcare providers structure physician–patient talks. Healthcare provider’s unawareness of the existence of PVGs was cited as an obstructive factor to its dissemination to patients.ConclusionLimited knowledge of the existence of PVGs among healthcare providers, coupled with alternative patient information, hinders the use and dissemination of PVGs in healthcare. However, the applicability of PVGs seemed to be acceptable owing to their content and good comprehensibility, especially with respect to physician–patient communication.

A pre-implementation examination of barriers and facilitators of an electronic prospective surveillance model for cancer rehabilitation: a qualitative study

BackgroundAn electronic Prospective Surveillance Model (ePSM) uses patient-reported outcomes to monitor symptoms along the cancer pathway for timely identification and treatment. Randomized controlled trials show that ePSMs can effectively manage treatment-related adverse effects. However, an understanding of optimal approaches for implementing these systems into routine cancer care is limited. This study aimed to identify barriers and facilitators prior to the implementation of an ePSM to inform the selection of implementation strategies.MethodsA qualitative study using virtual focus groups and individual interviews was conducted with cancer survivors, oncology healthcare providers, and clinic leadership across four cancer centres in Canada. The Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) guided the interviews and analysis of barriers and facilitators based on five domains (intervention characteristics, individual characteristics, inner setting, outer setting, and process).ResultsWe conducted 13 focus groups and nine individual interviews with 13 patient participants and 56 clinic staff. Of the 39 CFIR constructs, 18 were identified as relevant determinants to the implementation. The adaptability, relative advantage, and complexity of an ePSM emerged as key intervention-level factors that could influence implementation. Knowledge of the system was important at the individual level. Within the inner setting, major determinants were the potential fit of an ePSM with clinical workflows (compatibility) and the resources that could be dedicated to the implementation effort (readiness for implementation). In the outer setting, meeting the needs of patients and the availability of rehabilitation supports were key determinants. Engaging various stakeholders was critical at the process level.ConclusionsImproving the implementation of ePSMs in routine cancer care has the potential to facilitate early identification and management of treatment-related adverse effects, thereby improving quality of life. This study provides insight into important factors that may influence the implementation of an ePSM, which can be used to select appropriate implementation strategies to address these factors.

A Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey on Oncology Healthcare Professionals’ Awareness of Cancer Cachexia Diagnosis and its Management: A Cross-sectional Study

Introduction: As per the new classification of Cancer Cachexia (CC), the clear distinct precachexia stage can be identified, enabling early interventional strategies to retard the progression of CC. Given its recent classification and potential to prevent the onset of CC, it is imperative to study its awareness among Oncology Health Care Providers in India. Aim: To assess the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of diagnosing and managing CC in a group of oncologists and Onco-physiotherapists in India. Materials and Methods: This was a survey-based crosssectional study. The surveys were disseminated through various Indian Oncology professional organisation bodies in the country via emails from May 2020 to April 2021. Two survey questionnaires were formulated and validated based on a literature review and input from experts in the field. A total of 64 oncologists with an average of 11.96±8.49 years of experience and 53 physiotherapists with an average of 3.86±4.89 years of experience participated in the survey. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Results: In the knowledge domain, oncologists considered muscle wasting (37, 58%), weight loss (36, 57%), and loss of appetite (18, 14%) as the most accurate determinants of CC, and Onco-physiotherapists considered weight loss (18, 34%), muscle wasting (16, 30%), and loss of appetite (11, 21%) as the most accurate determinants. In the attitude domain of both surveys, nutritional therapy was considered an extremely important treatment. In the practice domain, the results showed that the majority of Oncologists (25, 39%) would initiate treatment at a weight loss of >5% when the stage of cachexia or refractory cachexia may have set in, while Oncophysiotherapists (23, 43%) would do so at 5%. Conclusion: These surveys suggest a knowledge-to-action gap and highlight the need for increased awareness about CC among cancer healthcare providers for optimal patient care.

Pharmacogenomic testing in oncology: a health system's approach to identify oncology provider perspectives.

Aim: Identify oncology healthcare providers' attitudes toward barriers to and use cases for pharmacogenomic (PGx) testing and implications for prescribing anticancer and supportive care medications. Materials & methods: A questionnaire was designed and disseminated to 71 practicing oncology providers across the MedStar Health System. Results: 25 of 70 (36%) eligible oncology providers were included. 88% were aware of PGx testing and 72% believed PGx can improve care. Of providers who had ordered a medication with PGx implications in the past month, interest in PGx for anticancer (90-100%) and supportive care medications (>75%) was high. Providers with previous PGx education were more likely to have ordered a test (odds ratio: 7.9; 95% CI: 1.1-56; p=0.0394). Conclusion: Oncology provider prescribing practices and interest in PGx suggest opportunities for implementation.

Geriatric Communication Skills Training Program for Oncology Healthcare Providers: a Secondary Analysis of Patient and Caregiver Outcomes.

Geriatric cancer patients and their caregivers have unique needs that make it difficult for their healthcare providers (HCPs) to effectively communicate with them. As ineffective communication can lead to negative health outcomes, it is important that oncology HCPs receive specialized training on communication with older adult patients and their caregivers. We conducted a small pilot study examining audio recordings of clinical encounters between HCPs and older adult cancer patients/caregivers and questionnaires completed by the patients and their caregivers before and after the HCPs participated in a geriatric communication skills training program. Eleven HCPs completed the 6-h Geriatric Comskil Training. Two clinic consultations with unique geriatric patients (n = 44) and their caregivers (n = 29) were recorded before and after training and coded for HCPs' use of communication skills. Patients and caregivers also completed surveys measuring their satisfaction with HCP communication and perceived empathy. Analysis of the audio recordings revealed that HCPs did not increase their use of communication skills after training. Although our sample was too small to detect statistical significance, measures of effect size showed trending improvements in patients' and caregivers' perceptions of HCPs' empathy and satisfaction with their communication after training. Our findings build on previous studies evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of the Geriatric Comskil Training in real world setting and indicate that the training may have improved HCPs' communication with older adult patients and their caregivers even if their use of their observable communication skills did not change.

Opioid Risk Mitigation Practices of Interprofessional Oncology Personnel: Results From a Cross-Sectional Survey.

This study explored the risk mitigation practices of multidisciplinary oncology health-care personnel for the nonmedical use of opioids in people with cancer. An anonymous, cross-sectional descriptive survey was administered via email to eligible providers over 4 weeks at The Ohio State University's Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital. The survey asked about experiences and knowledge related to opioid use disorders. The final sample of 773 participants included 42 physicians, 213 advanced practice providers (APPs consisted of advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, and pharmacists), and 518 registered nurses. Approximately 40% of participants responded feeling "not confident" in addressing medication diversion. The most frequent risk reduction measure was "Checking the prescription drug monitoring program" when prescribing controlled medications, reported by physicians (n = 29, 78.4%) and APPs (n = 164, 88.6%). People with cancer are not exempt from the opioid epidemic and may be at risk for nonmedical opioid use (NMOU) and substance use disorders. Implementing risk reduction strategies with every patient, with a harm reduction versus abstinence focus, minimizes harmful consequences and improves. This study highlights risk mitigation approaches for NMOU, representing an opportunity to improve awareness among oncology health-care providers. Multidisciplinary oncology teams are ideally positioned to navigate patients through complex oncology and health-care journeys.

Cancer care in transgender and gender-diverse persons: results from two national surveys among providers and health service users by the Italian Association of Medical Oncology

Transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) population represents an underserved group across the cancer care continuum. To assess the perspective of both oncology health care providers (OHPs) and TGD individuals in Italy, we conducted two national surveys: one among 2407 OHPs about their attitudes, knowledge and behavior toward TGD patients, and one among TGD persons about their health needs, experiences and barriers encountered in the use of health services across the cancer continuum. The surveys were self-compiled web-based computer-aided web interview, conducted in Italy within the 'OncoGender-Promoting Inclusion in Oncology' project, led by the Italian national cancer society [Associazione Italiana di Oncologia Medica (AIOM)]-associated researchers. All members of AIOM were invited by e-mail to participate in the OHP survey. TGD persons were reached through advocacy groups and consumers' panel. The recruitment was completed on a voluntary basis. Survey data were collected and managed using an online platform managed by ELMA Research, an independent pharmaceutical marketing agency. A total of 305 OHPs (13% of AIOM members) and 190 TGD individuals participated in the surveys. Only 19% of OHPs felt competent in providing care to TGD patients and 21% declared not to feel comfortable in treating TGD patients. Seventy-one percent of TGD persons reported that they had never joined any cancer screening program; 32% reported one or more acts of discrimination by health care providers. Seventy-two percent of OHPs recognized the lack of specific education on cancer care for TGD patients and deemed it necessary to receive adequate training. A general lack of knowledge among OHPs about TGD health issues seems to be the main driver of difficulties in providing assistance and of discriminatory attitudes against TGD individuals. Ultimately, this whole issue generates access barriers and contributes to lack of trust in health care services. Educational interventions and an implementation of person-centric cancer policies are urgently needed.

Health care provider and hospital decision-maker perceptions and beliefs on global environmental sustainability in the operating room.

e18832 Background: Human health is intrinsically linked to the environment’s health; therefore, it is essential for the surgical oncology community, healthcare providers (HCPs) and hospital leadership alike, to incorporate environmentally sustainable practices, while continuing to provide high quality care. Hospital operating rooms (ORs) have a serious environmental impact due to a high rate of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, medical waste generation, and energy consumption. An evidence-based understanding of the environmental impact of ORs, as well as sustainability initiatives undertaken to decrease this impact, are crucial for generating and implementing appropriate policies and guidelines. This systematic literature review (SLR) aimed to determine the perceptions and beliefs of HCPs and decision-makers related to environmental sustainability in OR settings globally. Methods: An SLR was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Embase and PubMed searches were conducted to identify relevant studies published between January 2011 and November 2022. Results: The analysis incorporated thirty-four studies focused on the perceptions and beliefs of OR HCPs and decision-makers on sustainability initiatives. The majority of HCPs across all studies indicated a willingness to engage in these sustainability initiatives such as recycling, while noting frequent barriers that prevent participation, such as lack of awareness and education, hospital funding, facilities to carry out recycling processes, and guidance at the hospital level. One study noted that robotic and laparoscopic procedures, when compared to open procedures, generate greater quantities of waste and GHG emissions. In a survey of 400 anesthesiologists, the lack of support from the hospital and inadequate education were identified as the main barriers to OR recycling by more than 60% of respondents. Common sustainability initiatives suggested by HCPs included creating a sustainability steering committee, reducing overall OR waste via recycling and waste segregation, education and training dedicated to environmental sustainability and enforcement of rules and mandates for sustainability initiatives. Conclusions: HCPs are aware of potential opportunities to make ORs more environmentally sustainable and HCPs are willing, but not necessarily able, to participate in these efforts. Existing literature shows that HCPs have suggestions for how to minimize the environmental impact of the OR. Oncologists interested in adopting more sustainable practices can use this research as a guide for key themes and barriers to acknowledge when designing and implementing their own initiatives. More research is needed on the implementation and impact of sustainability initiatives on the environment.

How to Make Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine a Part of Everyday Oncology Practice

Integrativety oncology (IO) is a “patient-centered, evidence-informed field of comprehensive cancer care that utilizes mind-body practices, natural products, and lifestyle modifications from different traditions alongside conventional cancer treatments.” There is an urgent need to educate oncology health care providers on the fundamentals of evidence-based IO to meet the needs of people with cancer. In this chapter, we aim to provide oncology professionals with actionable guidance on the basis of the Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO)-American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) guidelines on integrative medicine use during oncology visits to help alleviate symptoms and side effects in people with cancer during and after treatment.

A Qualitative Descriptive Study of Nurse-Patient Relationships Near End of Life.

The end of life (EOL) period represents a challenging time for patients with cancer as they face disruptions in their relationships with their oncology healthcare providers (HCPs) when moving toward hospice care. Poor communication and severed or altered relationships in physician-patient relationships have been shown to occur near EOL, leading to perceptions of abandonment and other negative consequences for quality EOL care. Little is known, however, about nurse-patient relationships near EOL in the cancer setting. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to describe the relationships between patients with cancer and their cancer nurses near EOL. A qualitative descriptive methodology was used via semistructured interviews. A total of 9 participants with advanced cancer were enrolled in and completed the study. Data analysis occurred through qualitative content analysis. The overarching theme woven throughout the narratives was "Good Communication Fosters Nurse-Patient Relationships." Three additional themes emerged from this main theme: 1) "Valuing Professionalism in the Relationship," 2) "Embracing Personhood in the Relationship," and 3) "An Unimaginable Termination." Patients with cancer continued to perceive good communication and strong relationships with their cancer nurses even as EOL approached. Themes consistent with negative alterations in these relationships or perceptions of abandonment were not identified. Cancer nurses can foster nurse-patient relationships through patient-centered communication techniques. Spending adequate time engaging with patients as individuals is also recommended. Perhaps most importantly, nurse-patient relationships should continue to be supported as EOL approaches.

Oncological healthcare providers’ perspectives on appropriate melanoma survivorship care: a qualitative focus group study

BackgroundThe increasing group of melanoma survivors reports multiple unmet needs regarding survivorship care (SSC). To optimise melanoma SSC, it is crucial to take into account the perspectives of oncological healthcare providers (HCPs) in addition to those of patients. The aim of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of HCPs’ perspectives on appropriate melanoma SSC.MethodsFour online focus groups were conducted with mixed samples of oncological HCPs (dermatologists, surgeons, oncologists, oncological nurse practitioners, support counsellors and general practitioners) (total n = 23). A topic guide was used to structure the discussions, focusing on perspectives on both SSC and survivorship care plans (SCPs). All focus groups were recorded, transcribed verbatim, and subjected to an elaborate thematic content analysis.ResultsRegarding SSC, HCPs considered the current offer minimal and stressed the need for broader personalised SSC from diagnosis onwards. Although hardly anyone was familiar with SCPs, they perceived various potential benefits of SCPs, such as an increase in the patients’ self-management and providing HCPs with an up-to-date overview of the patient’s situation. Perceived preconditions for successful implementation included adequate personalisation, integration in the electronic health record and ensuring adequate funding to activate and provide timely updates.ConclusionsAccording to HCPs there is considerable room for improvement in terms of melanoma SSC. SCPs can assist in offering personalised and broader i.e., including psychosocial SSC. Aside from personalisation, efforts should be focused on SCPs' integration in clinical practice, and their long-term maintenance.

Health care providers’ perspectives on providing end-of-life psychiatric care in cardiology and oncology hospitals: a cross-sectional questionnaire survey

BackgroundPsychological distress is a major concern for patients with end-stage heart failure (HF). However, psychiatric care for patients with HF is not as organized as that for patients with cancer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to elucidate and compare the barriers faced by health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals in providing end-of-life psychiatric care to patients with HF and cancer, respectively.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional questionnaire survey among the health care providers of Japan. Questionnaires were mailed to physicians and nurses of 427 cardiology and 347 oncology hospitals in March 2018 to assess health care providers’ perspectives. First, we compared the scores of the Palliative Care Difficulties Scale and the original scale of end-of-life psychiatric care difficulties between health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals. Second, we asked the health care providers to describe the barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care with an open-ended question and then compared the freely-provided descriptions using content analysis.ResultsA total of 213 cardiology and 224 oncology health care providers responded to the questionnaire. No significant differences were found between health care providers of cardiology and oncology hospitals in the frequency of experiencing barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care (59.8% and 62.2%, respectively). A content analysis identified the following eight barriers: “patients’ personal problems,” “family members’ problems,” “professionals’ personal problems,” “communication problems between professionals and patients,” “problems specific to end-of-life care,” “problems specific to psychiatric care,” “problems of institution or system,” and “problems specific to non-cancer patients.” The “problems specific to noncancer patients” was described more frequently by health care providers in cardiology hospitals than that in oncology hospitals. However, there were no significant differences in other items between the two.ConclusionAlthough health care providers of both cardiology and oncology hospitals faced barriers to providing end-of-life psychiatric care, those of cardiology hospitals particularly faced challenges pertaining to non-cancer patients, such as unpredictability of prognosis or insufficiency of guideline development. A system of psychiatric care, specifically for patients with HF, should be established.

A qualitative study identifying challenges resulting from complex evidence on lifestyle factors and cancer: perspectives from Black and Latina cancer survivors and healthcare providers.

Most breast cancer survivors have challenges with adopting healthy lifestyle behaviors. This may be due to contextual challenges that result from the complex nature of the evidence. To address this gap, we explored the experiences of breast cancer survivors of color and oncology healthcare providers. Content analysis with inductive and deductive approaches was used for semi-structured interviews with 26 female breast cancer survivors and 10 oncology healthcare providers from Greater New Haven, Connecticut. Survivors identified substantial confusion on the evidence regarding lifestyle behaviors and breast cancer, stemming from inadequate healthcare provider counseling and an overreliance on informal sources of information. Providers identified lack of evidence-based knowledge as a barrier to counseling on these topics. There was a mixed perspective regarding the consistency of evidence, stemming from a combination of gaps in the available evidence and accessing evidence-based knowledge from a wide range of professional resources. Some providers perceived the guidelines as consistent; others felt guidelines were constantly changing, impacting how and on what they counseled. Therefore, many healthcare providers in oncology care relied on generic messaging on lifestyle behaviors after a cancer diagnosis. Inconsistent information sources, the rapidly changing evidence, and gaps in the current evidence contribute to generic messaging about lifestyle behaviors and may inhibit a survivor's ability to engage in behavior change. Consistent and uniform healthy lifestyle guidelines for cancer outcomes may address both provider and patient level barriers to knowledge.

Geriatrics communication skills training program for oncology healthcare providers to improve the management of care for older adults with cancer.

We evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a novel intervention, the Geriatric Communication Skills Training Program (Geriatric Comskil Training) for multidisciplinary healthcare providers (HCPs). Three 2-h modules comprised the training: Geriatrics 101, Cognitive Syndromes, and Shared Decision-Making. Modules consisted of didactic knowledge, exemplary videos, and experiential learning role plays with standardized patients. We collected pre- and post-training data from 11 HCPs (module evaluations, self-efficacy, communication skills uptake in interaction with standardized patients, perceived ageism) and 44 patients (perceived HCP empathy, satisfaction with HCP communication). HCPs rated all modules high, with over 90% agreement on all course evaluation items assessing involvement, critical thinking, and reflectiveness, and significant improvements in self-efficacy. HCPs demonstrated an uptake in communication skills from pre- to post-training in agenda setting and overall skill use and reported promising trends towards lower ageism scores (d = 0.58). Promising trends in patient-reported HCP empathy (d = 0.39) and satisfaction with communication (d = 0.29) emerged from pre- to post-training. Continued efforts are needed to strengthen HCP education related to geriatric communication across the cancer continuum. The Geriatric Comskil Training demonstrated feasibility, acceptability, and increases in self-efficacy and communication skills uptake for HCPs.

Early-stage breast cancer menopausal symptom experience and management: exploring medical oncology clinic visit conversations through qualitative analysis.

Women being treated with chemotherapy for breast cancer experience menopausal symptoms that vary in presentation and impact on quality of life. The clinical visit before each chemotherapy cycle provides an important opportunity to allow patients to dialogue with their medical oncology healthcare providers about these symptoms and identify strategies for self-management. The objective of this study was to characterize patient and provider interactions regarding the menopausal symptom experience and management in the context of breast cancer treatment. Thematic analysis was employed to analyze 61 transcripts from clinical encounters of women receiving chemotherapy treatment for breast cancer. Transcripts were chosen based on their inclusion of menopausal symptom discussion. Themes were separated into three distinct categories: patient, clinician, and dyadic themes. The overarching theme was goal discordance in the clinical visit, which was reflected in the following themes: unexpected and unprepared; distressed, disrupted and disturbed; clinical insensitivity; missed opportunity for management and empathy; and use of humor and colloquial language. Overall, women were unprepared for the menopausal symptom experience, and clinicians did not often provide management, interventions, or empathetic responses. There is a need to develop more astute assessment and communication regarding menopausal symptoms during the clinical visit. Possible interventions include a more holistic assessment, algorithms to facilitate the clinician's attention and response to menopausal symptoms, and treatment of symptoms.

Ambiguous loss in family caregivers of loved ones with cancer, a synthesis of qualitative studies.

The purpose of this synthesis of qualitative studies is to explore manifestations of ambiguous loss within the lived experiences of family caregivers (FCG) of loved ones with cancer. Grief and loss are familiar companions to the family caregivers of loved ones with cancer. Anticipatory loss, pre-loss grief, complicated grief, and bereavement loss have been studied in this caregiver population. It is unknown if family caregivers also experience ambiguous loss while caring for their loved ones along the uncertain landscape of the cancer illness and survivorship trajectory. We conducted a four-step qualitative meta-synthesis of primary qualitative literature published in three databases between 2008 and 2021. Fourteen manuscripts were analyzed using a qualitative appraisal tool and interpreted through thematic synthesis and reciprocal translation. Five themes were derived, revealing FCGs appreciate change in their primary relationship with their loved ones with cancer, uncertainty reconciling losses, an existence that is static in time, living with paradox, and disenfranchised grief. The results of this synthesis of qualitative studies complement the descriptors of ambiguous loss presented in previous research. The results of this synthesis of qualitative studies complement the descriptors of ambiguous loss presented in previous theoretical and clinical research. By understanding ambiguous loss as a complex and normal human experience of cancer FCGs, oncology and palliative care healthcare providers can introduce interventions and therapeutics to facilitate caring-healing and resiliency. Untreated ambiguous loss can result in a decrease in wellbeing, loss of hope, and loss of meaning in life. It is imperative that cancer FCGs experiencing ambiguous loss are recognized and supported so that they may live well in the family disease of cancer.