scholarly journals Chemotherapy Treatment Modifications During the COVID-19 Outbreak at a Community Cancer Center in New York City

2020 ◽  
pp. 1298-1305
Author(s):  
Dong D. Lin ◽  
Trishala Meghal ◽  
Pooja Murthy ◽  
Lan Mo ◽  
Ashley D’Silva ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Curative Intent ◽  
Treatment Modification ◽  
Treatment Regimens ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Common Strategy

PURPOSE As a result of their immunocompromised status associated with disease and treatment, patients with cancer face a profound threat for higher rates of complications and mortality if they contract the coronavirus disease 2019 infection. Medical oncology communities have developed treatment modifications to balance the risk of contracting the virus with the benefit of improving cancer-related outcomes. METHODS We systemically examined our community cancer center database to display patterns of change and to unveil factors that have been considered with each decision. We studied a cohort of 282 patients receiving treatment and found that 159 patients (56.4%) had treatment modifications. RESULTS The incidence of treatment modification was observed in patients undergoing adjuvant and neoadjuvant (41.4%), palliative (62.9%), or injectable endocrine or bone-modulating only (76.0%) treatments. Modifications were applied to regimens with myelosuppressive (56.5%), immunosuppressive (69.2%), and immunomodulating (61.5%) potentials. These modifications also affected intravenous (54.9%) and subcutaneous injectable treatments (62.5%) more than oral treatments (15.8%). Treatment modifications in 112 patients (70.4%) were recommended by providers, and 47 (29.6%) were initiated by patients. The most common strategy of modification was to skip or postpone a scheduled treatment (49%). Among treatment with no modifications, treatment regimens were maintained in patients who tolerated treatment well (37.0%), in treatments with curative intent (22%), and in symptomatic patients who required treatment (14%). CONCLUSION Our observation and analysis suggested that the primary goal of treatment modification was to decrease potential exposure. The pattern also reflected the negative impact of the pandemic on health care providers who initiated these changes. Providers have to consider individualized recommendations incorporating multiple factors, such as tolerance, potential toxicity, treatment nature and route, and disease severity.

scholarly journals COVID-19–Related Ethics Consultations at a Cancer Center in New York City: A Content Review of Ethics Consultations During the Early Stages of the Pandemic

2020 ◽  
pp. OP.20.00440
Author(s):  
Danielle Novetsky Friedman ◽  
Liz Blackler ◽  
Yesne Alici ◽  
Amy E. Scharf ◽  
Martin Chin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Ethical Issues ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Delivery Of Care ◽  
Code Status ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Content Review

PURPOSE: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised a variety of ethical dilemmas for health care providers. Limited data are available on how a patient’s concomitant cancer diagnosis affected ethical concerns raised during the early stages of the pandemic. METHODS: We performed a retrospective review of all COVID-related ethics consultations registered in a prospectively collected ethics database at a tertiary cancer center between March 14, 2020, and April 28, 2020. Primary and secondary ethical issues, as well as important contextual factors, were identified. RESULTS: Twenty-six clinical ethics consultations were performed on 24 patients with cancer (58.3% male; median age, 65.5 years). The most common primary ethical issues were code status (n = 11), obligation to provide nonbeneficial treatment (n = 3), patient autonomy (n = 3), resource allocation (n = 3), and delivery of care wherein the risk to staff might outweigh the potential benefit to the patient (n = 3). An additional nine consultations raised concerns about staff safety in the context of likely nonbeneficial treatment as a secondary issue. Unique contextual issues identified included concerns about public safety for patients requesting discharge against medical advice (n = 3) and difficulties around decision making, especially with regard to code status because of an inability to reach surrogates (n = 3). CONCLUSION: During the early pandemic, the care of patients with cancer and COVID-19 spurred a number of ethics consultations, which were largely focused on code status. Most cases also raised concerns about staff safety in the context of limited benefit to patients, a highly unusual scenario at our institution that may have been triggered by critical supply shortages.

Differences in perceptions of smoking and second-hand smoke (SHS) in palliative and nonpalliative patients with cancer.

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (26_suppl) ◽  
pp. 251-251
Author(s):  
Rahul Mohan ◽  
Devon Alton ◽  
Jie Su ◽  
Yuyao Song ◽  
Delaram Farzanfar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smoking Cessation ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Diagnosis ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Second Hand Smoke ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Shs Exposure ◽  
Palliative Patients

251 Background: With improvements in cancer therapies, palliative patients with cancer now enjoy improved and sometimes prolonged survival. Continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis negatively impacts treatment response/toxicities, survival and quality of life and is influenced by SHS exposure. Little is known about the perceptions of palliative patients with cancer in comparison to patients who are considered potentially curative, on smoking after a cancer diagnosis and of SHS exposure. We assessed such potential differences in perception. Methods: Patients with cancer across all sites were surveyed with respect to their smoking habits and perceptions on how smoking and SHS influences cancer-related QofL, fatigue and overall survival (OS). Review of patient charts confirmed which patients were considered palliative versus potentially curative. Multivariable logistic regression models assessed for associations between treatment intent and patient perceptions, adjusted for significant co-variables. Results: Among 985 patients with cancer, 22% were considered palliative; 23% of surveyed patients smoked at diagnosis; 10% continued smoking at follow-up. Most patients perceived that continued smoking and SHS exposure negatively impacted QofL (continued smoking: 83%, SHS: 82%), fatigue (83%, 79%) and OS (86%, 81%). Palliative patients were more likely to believe that SHS worsened their cancer-related fatigue (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.65, 95% CI [1.05-2.56], P = 0.03) and worsened OS (unadjusted OR = 1.92, [1.12-3.33], P= 0.02; aOR = 1.56 [0.98-2.50], P = 0.06). Yet palliative/non-palliative status was not found to be associated with perceived benefits of smoking cessation on QofL, fatigue, or OS (P > 0.10, all comparisons). Conclusions: When compared with non-palliative patients, palliative patients with cancer perceived a greater negative impact of SHS on fatigue and survival, but had similar views of continued smoking after a cancer diagnosis. We are encouraged that palliative status did not lead to patients having diluted perceptions on the negative impact of smoking on cancer outcomes. Health care providers should continue to focus on the positive impacts of smoking cessation and SHS in this setting.

scholarly journals Concerns of Patients With Cancer on Accessing Cannabis Products in a State With Restrictive Medical Marijuana Laws: A Survey Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 531-538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vinita Singh ◽  
Ali J. Zarrabi ◽  
Kimberly A. Curseen ◽  
Roman Sniecinski ◽  
Justine W. Welsh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Palliative Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Medical Marijuana ◽  
Survey Study ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Medical Marijuana Laws ◽  
Source Of Information

PURPOSE: Several states, particularly in the Southeast, have restrictive medical marijuana laws that permit qualified patients to use specific cannabis products. The majority of these states, however, do not provide avenues for accessing cannabis products such as in-state dispensaries. METHODS: We conducted a survey of patients registered for medical marijuana (low tetrahydrocannabinol [THC] oil cards) in an ambulatory palliative care practice in Georgia (one of the states with restrictive medical marijuana laws). RESULTS: We had a total of 101 responses. Among our sample of patients who use cannabis as part of a state-approved low THC oil program, 56% were male and 64% were older than age 50 years. Advanced cancer was the most common reason (76%) for granting the patients access to a low THC oil card. Although patients reported cannabis products as being extremely helpful for reducing pain, they expressed considerable concerns about the legality issues (64%) and ability to obtain THC (68%). Several respondents were using unapproved formulations of cannabis products. For 48% of the patients, their physician was the source of information regarding marijuana-related products. Furthermore, they believed that their health care providers and family members were supportive of their use of cannabis (62% and 79%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Patients on Georgia’s medical marijuana program are most concerned about the legality of the product and their ability to obtain marijuana-related products. Therefore, we recommend that states with medical marijuana laws should provide safe and reliable access to cannabis products for qualifying patients.

scholarly journals Lyme Arthritis in Children on the Uptick in Western New York Area

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 117954411989085
Author(s):  
Lauren N Lucente ◽  
Aseel Abu-Dayya ◽  
Teresa Hennon ◽  
Shamim Islam ◽  
Brian H Wrotniak ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
New York ◽  
Lyme Disease ◽  
Clinical Features ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Pediatric Population ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Rapid Onset ◽  
Lyme Arthritis ◽  
Care Providers

Objective: This study explores a suspected increasing incidence of Lyme arthritis in the Western New York pediatric population. In addition, we aim to describe a clinical picture of Lyme arthritis and the clinical features that distinguish it from other forms of arthritis. Methods: Patients diagnosed with Lyme arthritis between January 2014 and September 2018 were identified using International Classification of Diseases—10th Revision (ICD 10) codes for Lyme disease and Lyme arthritis. Patients were included in the study if they (1) exhibited arthritis, (2) tested positive for Lyme antibodies, and (3) exhibited a positive Western blot. Results: A total of 22 patients were included in the study. There was a general trend toward an increasing number of cases of Lyme arthritis over the 45-month observation period. We identified 1 case in each 2014 and 2015, 4 cases in 2016, 7 in 2017, and 9 in the first 9 months of 2018. In total, 17 patients had arthritis as their only symptom at the time of diagnosis and 10 patients had a rash or a history that prompted suspicion of Lyme disease. The knee was the most frequent joint (86.4% of patients), and patients typically had 2 or fewer joints affected (86.4% of patients). Conclusions: A significant increase ( P = .02) in Lyme arthritis cases was observed at Oishei Children’s Hospital of Buffalo. Lyme arthritis may clinically present similarly to other forms of arthritis, such as oligoarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis, so health care providers should be aware of distinguishing clinical features, which include rapid onset of swelling and patient age. Because the geographic area of endemic Lyme disease is expanding, all health care providers need to be aware of Lyme arthritis as a possible diagnosis.

Definition of a Good Death, Attitudes Toward Death, and Feelings of Interconnectedness Among People Taking Care of Terminally ill Patients With Cancer: An Exploratory Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 343-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Bovero ◽  
Francesco Gottardo ◽  
Rossana Botto ◽  
Chiara Tosi ◽  
Marta Selvatico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Terminally Ill ◽  
Good Death ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Death Attitudes ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Terminally Ill Patients ◽  
Attitudes Toward Death ◽  
Open Questions ◽  
Dying Patients

The concept of a good death is crucial in palliative care, but its relationship with attitudes toward death and feelings of interconnectedness needs to be further deepened. The first aim of this study was to explore the concept of good death, attitudes toward death, and feelings of interconnectedness among family caregivers (FCs) and health-care providers (HCPs) of terminally ill patients with cancer. The second aim was to analyze associations of good death concept with attitudes toward death and feelings of interconnectedness. Participants were asked to assess the importance of features that characterize a good death. To explore each person’s attitude toward death and feelings of interconnectedness, 3 open questions were used. The sample consisted of 49 participants: 24 (48.98%) FCs and 25 (51.02%) HCPs. Nine good death features were considered essential by more than 70% of participants. These referred to the physical (eg, symptoms control), social (eg, loved ones’ presence), emotional (eg, sharing emotions), and spiritual (eg, inner peace) dimensions. Importance attributed to components of a good death such as patient’s awareness and acceptance of death, meaning, respect for the patient’s wishes, and inner peace were found to be associated with lack of avoidance and acceptance toward death and feelings of interconnectedness. Given the importance of FCs and HCPs in providing care and their impact on the patients’ dying process, it is necessary to reflect upon how their personal attitudes and previous experiences influence the care of dying patients.

Clinical and Autopsy Analysis of Delayed Diagnosis and Missed Injuries in Trauma Patients

2006 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 174-179
Author(s):  
Om P. Sharma ◽  
Diane M. Scala-Barnett ◽  
Michael F. Oswanski ◽  
Amy Aton ◽  
Shekhar S. Raj
Keyword(s):  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Delayed Diagnosis ◽  
P Value ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Missed Injuries ◽  
Impact On Survival ◽  
Group 2 ◽  
Trauma Deaths ◽  
Group 1

Delayed diagnosis of injury (DDI) during hospitalization and missed injuries (MI) on autopsy in trauma deaths result in untoward outcomes. Autopsy is an effective educational tool for health care providers to evaluate trauma care. A retrospective study of trauma registry patients and coroner's records was categorized into groups 1 (alive patients) and 2 (trauma deaths) and analyzed. DDI incidence was similar in group 1 (1.8%) and group 2 (1.9%). Autopsy analysis (163 patients) yielded 139 MI in 94 patients (57.6%), <3 per cent of MI had negative impact on survival. Bony injuries comprised 68 per cent of DDI and 19 per cent of MI. Group 1 DDI patients were sicker with higher injury severity score (ISS: 16.07) than their cohorts (ISS 7.13, P value <0.05). These patients had higher Glasgow Coma Scale (14.41) and lower ISS (16.07) as compared with group 2 MI patients (ISS: 33.49, GCS: 6.45, P value <0.05). Autopsy rate was 99.5 per cent in trauma deaths, 57 per cent for nontrauma deaths, and 79 per cent for all deaths. Less than 3 per cent of MI had negative impact on survival. Routine ongoing patient assessment with pertinent diagnostic workup is essential in reducing DDI. Trauma autopsies reveal MI, which aid performance improvement (PI).

scholarly journals Querying Patients With Cancer About Sexual Health and Sexual and Gender Minority Status: A Qualitative Study of Health-Care Providers

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 418-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Cathcart-Rake ◽  
Jennifer M. O’Connor ◽  
Jennifer L. Ridgeway ◽  
Carmen Radecki Breitkopf ◽  
Lois J. Mc Guire ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Sexual Health ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Minority Status ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Gender Minority ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
National Organizations ◽  
Sexual And Gender Minority ◽  
And Gender

Background: Although national organizations advocate that health-care providers ask patients about sexual health and sexual and gender minority status—to learn, for example, about side effects of treatment and to understand patients’ social support—these conversations often do not occur. This study explored health-care providers’ reasons for having/not having these conversations. Methods: This single-institution study recruited health-care providers from medical oncology, hematology, radiation oncology, and gynecology. Face-to-face interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed qualitatively. Results: Three main themes emerged: (1) patient-centric reasons for discussing/not discussing sexual health and sexual and gender minority status (“So I think just the holistic viewpoint is important”); (2) health-care provider–centric reasons for discussing/not discussing these issues (“That’s going to take more time to talk about and to deal with…” or “I was raised orthodox, so this is not something we talk about…”; and (3) reasons that appeared to straddle both of the above themes (eg, acknowledgment of the sometimes taboo nature of these topics). Conclusion: Although many health-care providers favor talking with patients with cancer about sexual health and sexual and gender minority status, limited time, personal reluctance, and the taboo nature of these topics appear at times to hamper the initiation of these conversations.

Chemotherapy Acute Infusion Reactions: A Qualitative Report of the Perspectives of Patients With Cancer

2018 ◽  
Vol 35 (11) ◽  
pp. 1384-1389
Author(s):  
David J. Bartlett ◽  
Daniel S. Childs ◽  
Carmen Radecki Breitkopf ◽  
Megan E. Grudem ◽  
Jessica L. Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Antineoplastic Agents ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Infusion Reaction ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Patients With Cancer ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Infusion Reactions

Objective: A growing number of cancer antineoplastic agents can cause life-threatening acute infusion reactions. Because previous studies have not studied these reactions from the perspective of patients, this study was undertaken with that objective in mind. Methods: Patients who had an acute infusion reaction were interviewed based on the Leventhal model. Once saturation of content was achieved, interviews were transcribed and analyzed with qualitative methodology. Results: Twenty-one patients were enrolled. Most were women (n = 15); the median age was 58 years, and paclitaxel was the most common inciting agent. Three themes emerged. First, these reactions are frightening; patients made remarks such as “I was just thinking oh my God, I am dying.” Second, prior education about these reactions seemed to mitigate this fear, “Basically everything the nurses told me potentially could happen, like happened. So, I was prepared.” Third, when health-care providers were prompt and attentive during the reaction, patients described less fear with future chemotherapy, “So no, I’m really not fearful about going in tomorrow because I know they’ll be there and they’ll be watching me.” Conclusion: These reactions evoke fear which can be mitigated with education prior to and with prompt responsiveness during the acute infusion reaction.

A Qualitative Study of a Compassion, Presence, and Resilience Training for Oncology Interprofessional Teams

2018 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinat Nissim ◽  
Carmine Malfitano ◽  
Mark Coleman ◽  
Gary Rodin ◽  
Mary Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Subjective Experience ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Holistic Health ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Care Practice ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Interprofessional Teams ◽  
Resilience Training

The well-being of health care providers may be challenged by their work, with evidence that oncology health care providers are a high-risk group for burnout. The present qualitative pilot study evaluated a mindfulness-based group intervention, referred to as Compassion, Presence, and Resilience Training (CPR-T), for oncology interprofessional teams. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the subjective experience of oncology health care providers receiving CPR-T and their perceptions of its benefits, risks, or challenges. The CPR-T was delivered to providers from two oncology teams in a large cancer center in Canada. Ten of these providers participated in semistructured interviews 1 to 5 months after completing the CPR-T. The interview transcripts were coded using a thematic analysis strategy. Five benefits of the CPR-T were identified: learning to pause, acquiring a working definition of stress and self-care, becoming fully present, building self-compassion, and receiving organizational acknowledgment and recognition of stress. In addition, two participant-identified challenges were recognized: sharing vulnerability within interprofessional teams and committing to a sitting meditation practice. These findings demonstrate positive transformations as a result of the CPR-T, as well as important challenges, and have important implications for holistic health care practice in oncology. Further research is necessary to validate the findings of this explorative study.

Immersive Virtual Environments, Avatars, and Agents for Health

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Joo (Grace) Ahn ◽  
Jesse Fox
Keyword(s):  
Virtual Environments ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Sensory Information ◽  
Physical World ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Current Treatment ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Individual Level ◽  
Immersive Virtual Environments ◽  
Treatment Regimens

Immersive virtual environments (IVEs) are systems comprised of digital devices that simulate multiple layers of sensory information so that users experience sight, sound, and even touch like they do in the physical world. Users are typically represented in these environments in the form of virtual humans and may interact with other virtual representations such as health-care providers, coaches, future selves, or treatment stimuli (e.g., phobia triggers, such as crowds of people or spiders). These virtual representations can be controlled by humans (avatars) or computers algorithms (agents). Embodying avatars and interacting with agents, patients can experience sensory-rich simulations in the virtual world that may be difficult or even impossible to experience in the physical world but are sufficiently real to influence health attitudes and behaviors. Avatars and agents are infinitely customizable to tailor virtual experiences at the individual level, and IVEs are able to transcend the spatial and temporal boundaries of the physical world. Although still preliminary, a growing number of studies demonstrate IVEs’ potential as a health promotion and therapy tool, complementing and enhancing current treatment regimens. Attempts to incorporate IVEs into treatments and intervention programs have been made in a number of areas, including physical activity, nutrition, rehabilitation, exposure therapy, and autism spectrum disorders. Although further development and research is necessary, the increasing availability of consumer-grade IVE systems may allow clinicians and patients to consider IVE treatment as a routine part of their regimen in the near future.

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