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AHRQ Research Studies
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Research Studies is a compilation of published research articles funded by AHRQ or authored by AHRQ researchers.
Results
126 to 150 of 788 Research Studies DisplayedSnyder C, Choi Y, Smith KC
Realist review of care models that include primary care for adult childhood cancer survivors.
The authors conducted a realist review to describe how models of care that include primary care and relevant resources could be effective for adult survivors of childhood cancer. The variables from this program theory found most consistently in the literature included oncology vs primary care specialty, survivor and provider knowledge, provider comfort treating childhood cancer survivors, communication and coordination between and among providers and survivors, and delivery/receipt of prevention and surveillance of late effects.
AHRQ-funded; 75Q80120D00003.
Citation: Snyder C, Choi Y, Smith KC .
Realist review of care models that include primary care for adult childhood cancer survivors.
JNCI Cancer Spectr 2022 Mar 2;6(2). doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkac012..
Keywords: Cancer, Primary Care, Primary Care: Models of Care
Fernandez JR, Richmond J, Nápoles AM
Everyday discrimination and cancer metaphor preferences: the mediating effects of needs for personal significance and cognitive closure.
This study examined the relationship between discrimination and preferences for cancer battle metaphors versus journey metaphors. Four-hundred twenty-seven cancer patients completed an online survey. Question items included on every day discrimination, need for personal significance, need for cognitive closure, and preference for cancer scenarios using battle or journey metaphors. Discrimination was associated with battle metaphor preferences through serial mediation when discrimination was not associated to race. When discrimination was associated with race, it was directly associated with journey metaphor preferences and the serial medication was nonsignificant. The single mediation model was strongest for non-Hispanic White participants and varied across racial/ethnic groups.
AHRQ-funded; HS026122.
Citation: Fernandez JR, Richmond J, Nápoles AM .
Everyday discrimination and cancer metaphor preferences: the mediating effects of needs for personal significance and cognitive closure.
SSM Popul Health 2022 Mar;17:100991. doi: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2021.100991..
Keywords: Cancer, Racial and Ethnic Minorities
Di M, Keeney T, Belanger E
Global risk indicator and therapy for older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a population-based study.
The objective of this study was to examine the impact of global risk on treatment selection and outcomes among older home care recipients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Researchers selected patients diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who had pretreatment Outcome and Assessment Information Set (OASIS) evaluations from SEER-Medicare. High-risk patients were less likely to receive chemotherapy and were more likely to experience acute mortality, emergency department visits, hospitalization or intensive care unit admission, and had inferior overall survival rates. The researchers concluded that global risk on the basis of OASIS was easily available and offered a potential way to improve patient selection for curative treatment and institution of preventive measures.
AHRQ-funded; HS000011.
Citation: Di M, Keeney T, Belanger E .
Global risk indicator and therapy for older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a population-based study.
JCO Oncol Pract 2022 Mar; 18(3):e383-e402. doi: 10.1200/op.21.00513..
Keywords: Elderly, Cancer, Risk
Saulsberry L, Liao C, Huo D
Hypofractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer: financial risk and expenditures in the United States, 2008 to 2017.
This study examined the costs of hypofractionated whole breast irradiation (HF-WBI) compared with conventional whole breast irradiation (CF-WBI) and investigated the influences of patient characteristics and commercial insurance on HF-WBI use. This retrospective study used private employer-sponsored insurance claims to obtain a pooled cross-sectional evaluation of radiation therapy in patients with commercial insurance from 2008 to 2017. The study population included female patients with early-stage breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and whole breast irradiation. A total of 15,869 women received HF-WBI, and 59,328 CF-WBI. A higher proportion of college graduates and greater mixed racial composition was associated with increased HF-WBI use. Mean insurer-paid radiation therapy expenditures were significantly lower for HB-WBI versus CF-WBI (adjusted difference $6375). Mean patient out-of-pocket expenditures for HF-WBI was $139 less than for CF-WBI. Geographic variation existed across the United States with no consistent relationship between HF-WBI use and correspondent average cost differences.
AHRQ-funded; HS025806.
Citation: Saulsberry L, Liao C, Huo D .
Hypofractionated radiation therapy for breast cancer: financial risk and expenditures in the United States, 2008 to 2017.
Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022 Mar;112(3):654-62. doi: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2021.10.005..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Healthcare Costs, Women
Brajcich BC, Benson AB, Gantt G
Management of colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations from a statewide multidisciplinary cancer collaborative.
J Surg Oncol 2022 Mar;125(4):560-63. doi: 10.1002/jso.26758.
AHRQ-funded; HS026385.
Citation: Brajcich BC, Benson AB, Gantt G .
Management of colorectal cancer during the COVID-19 pandemic: recommendations from a statewide multidisciplinary cancer collaborative.
J Surg Oncol 2022 Mar;125(4):560-63. doi: 10.1002/jso.26758..
Keywords: COVID-19, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Guidelines, Evidence-Based Practice, Healthcare Delivery
Watterson TL, Stone JA, Gilson A
Impact of CancelRx on discontinuation of controlled substance prescriptions: an interrupted time series analysis.
The purpose of this study was to assess how controlled substance medication discontinuations were communicated over time, before and after the implementation of CancelRx. Data were collected from a midwestern academic health system’s electronic health record and pharmacy platform for 12 months prior to and for 12 months post CancelRx implementation. Findings showed that, after CancelRx implementation, there was an immediate and significant increase in the number of controlled substance medications that were successfully discontinued at the pharmacy once they were discontinued in the clinic. This change was sustained in the year following CancelRx and did not revert to pre-CancelRx levels. The health IT functionality was able to complete discontinuation tasks and potentially to reduce workload for clinic staff.
AHRQ-funded; HS025793.
Citation: Watterson TL, Stone JA, Gilson A .
Impact of CancelRx on discontinuation of controlled substance prescriptions: an interrupted time series analysis.
BMC Med Inform Decis Mak 2022 Feb 25;22(1):50. doi: 10.1186/s12911-022-01779-9..
Keywords: Cancer, Medication, Health Information Technology (HIT), Provider: Pharmacist
Radhakrishnan A, Reyes-Gastelum D, Abrahamse P
Physician specialties involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment: implications for improving health care disparities.
The authors sought to characterize providers involved in diagnosing and treating thyroid cancer. Patients with differentiated thyroid cancer from the Georgia and Los Angeles County Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results registries were surveyed. The authors found that, among thyroid cancer patients, 40.6% reported being informed of their diagnosis by their surgeon, 37.9% by their endocrinologist, and 13.5% by their primary care physician (PCP). The researchers concluded that PCPs were involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment, and their involvement was greater among older patients and patients of minority race/ethnicity.
AHRQ-funded; HS024512.
Citation: Radhakrishnan A, Reyes-Gastelum D, Abrahamse P .
Physician specialties involved in thyroid cancer diagnosis and treatment: implications for improving health care disparities.
J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2022 Feb 17;107(3):e1096-e105. doi: 10.1210/clinem/dgab781..
Keywords: Cancer, Disparities, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Practice Patterns, Quality Improvement, Quality of Care
Reese TJ, Schlechter CR, Kramer H
Implementing lung cancer screening in primary care: needs assessment and implementation strategy design.
This study explored the implementation of lung cancer screening with low-dose computed tomography (CT) in primary care. The study’s two goals included exploring the implementation of lung cancer screening primary care in the context of integrating a decision aid into the electronic health record and a designing of implementation strategies that target hypothesized mechanics of change and context-specific barriers. The two phases included a Qualitative Analysis phase including semi-structured interviews with primary care physicians to elicit key task behaviors, and an Implementation Strategy Design phase consisting of defining implementation strategies and hypothesizing causal pathways to improve screening with a decision aid. Fourteen interviews were conducted and out of that 3 key task behaviors and four behavioral determinants emerged. Strategies included increasing provider self-efficacy toward performing shared decision making and using the decision aid, improving provider performance expectancy, increasing social influence, and addressing key facilitators to using the decision aid.
AHRQ-funded; HS026198.
Citation: Reese TJ, Schlechter CR, Kramer H .
Implementing lung cancer screening in primary care: needs assessment and implementation strategy design.
Transl Behav Med 2022 Feb 16;12(2):187-97. doi: 10.1093/tbm/ibab115..
Keywords: Cancer: Lung Cancer, Cancer, Primary Care, Screening, Implementation, Decision Making
Chen MM, Hughes TM, Dossett LA
Peace of mind: a role in unnecessary care?
This article discusses the role peace of mind plays in unnecessary cancer preventative care, including unnecessary screenings and surgeries. For example, shared-decision making is recommended by the USPSTF for PSA-based screening but if the decision to screen is emotion-based, then shared decision-making guidelines may not be effective. A number of studies have shown that peace of mind has been implicated as a key patient-centered outcome driving the increased utilization of contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM). Overdiagnosis and overtreating of thyroid cancer have resulted in an accelerating rate of total thyroidectomies relative to lobectomies for small papillary cancers in the past decade even though there is no evidence showing better survival rates. Quality-of-life studies have not shown better outcomes to patients who do chose the more radical treatment. The authors recommend that clinicians undergo training in cognitive debiasing strategies and more training in empathic communication and risk communication techniques to decrease the potential negative influence of peace of mind.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Chen MM, Hughes TM, Dossett LA .
Peace of mind: a role in unnecessary care?
J Clin Oncol 2022 Feb 10;40(5):433-37. doi: 10.1200/jco.21.01895..
Keywords: Patient-Centered Healthcare, Decision Making, Cancer
Higashi RT, Rodriguez SA, Betts AC
Anal cancer screening among women with HIV: provider experiences and system-level challenges.
This article described current practices and barriers met in conducting anal cancer screenings for women living with HIV (WLWH) in an urban integrated safety-net system and in a non-profit community-based HIV clinic. Semi-structured interviews with clinical and administrative stakeholders were conducted to assess their screening for anal cancer experiences, knowledge, clinic practices and procedures. Barriers included limited knowledge of guidelines by providers and system-level issues such as lack of coordination between clinics and limitations on available resources. The authors concluded that screenings and follow-up require organization and coordination between multiple care teams, as well as improved clinical information systems to facilitate communication and infrastructure for managing abnormal results.
AHRQ-funded; HS022418.
Citation: Higashi RT, Rodriguez SA, Betts AC .
Anal cancer screening among women with HIV: provider experiences and system-level challenges.
AIDS Care 2022 Feb; 34(2):220-26. doi: 10.1080/09540121.2021.1883512..
Keywords: Cancer, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Women, Screening
Wallis CJD, Huang LC, Zhao Z
Association between pelvic nodal radiotherapy and patient-reported functional outcomes through 5 years among men undergoing external-beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer: an assessment of the Comparative Effectiveness Analysis of Surgery and Radiation (C
In this study, the investigators sought to compare functional outcomes for men receiving prostate and pelvic versus prostate-only radiotherapy, longitudinally over 5 years. The investigators concluded that there were no clinically important differences in disease-specific or general health-related quality of life with the addition of pelvic irradiation to prostate radiotherapy, supporting the use of pelvic radiotherapy when it may be of clinical benefit, such as men with increased risk of nodal involvement.
AHRQ-funded; HS022640; HS019356.
Citation: Wallis CJD, Huang LC, Zhao Z .
Association between pelvic nodal radiotherapy and patient-reported functional outcomes through 5 years among men undergoing external-beam radiotherapy for prostate cancer: an assessment of the Comparative Effectiveness Analysis of Surgery and Radiation (C
Urol Oncol 2022 Feb;40(2):56.e1-56.e8. doi: 10.1016/j.urolonc.2021.04.035..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Men's Health, Comparative Effectiveness, Outcomes, Evidence-Based Practice, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research, Quality of Life
Tice JA, Gard CC, Miglioretti DL
Comparing mammographic density assessed by digital breast tomosynthesis or digital mammography: the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
This study’s purpose was to assess the consistency of Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) breast density reporting comparing digital breast tomosynthesis (DBT) with digital mammography (DM) and to evaluate density as a breast cancer risk factor when assessed using DM versus DBT. A secondary analysis of data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium was used from 342,149 women aged 40-79 years who underwent at least two screening mammography examinations less than 36 months apart. There were no significant differences in breast density assessment in pairs consisting of one DM and one DBT examination (57,516 of 74,729 [77%]), two DM examinations (238,678 of 301,743 [79%]), and two DBT examinations (20,763 of 26,854). Results were similar when pair analysis was restricted to readings by the same radiologist. The breast cancer hazard ratios (HRs) for breast density were similar for DM and DBT. The HRs for density acquired using DM and DBT, respectively, were 0.55 and 0.37 for almost entirely fat, 1.47 and 1.36 for heterogeneously dense, and 1.72 and 2.05 for extremely dense breasts.
AHRQ-funded; HS018366.
Citation: Tice JA, Gard CC, Miglioretti DL .
Comparing mammographic density assessed by digital breast tomosynthesis or digital mammography: the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium.
Radiology 2022 Feb; 302(2):286-92. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2021204579..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Imaging, Screening, Diagnostic Safety and Quality
Mitchell JM, Gresenz CR
Documenting horizontal integration among urologists who treat prostate cancer.
The purpose of this study was to create and employ a methodology to document changes in physician practice structure resulting from horizontal mergers among urology groups. To identify all urologists who treated men with prostate cancer, the researchers integrated cancer registry records from four large states with Medicare Part B claims. Information from SK & A surveys and extensive internet searches was added to assign a practice structure to each urologist-year from 2005-2014. The study found that horizontal merging among small urology groups resulted in a strong increase in the percentage of urologists who belong to large urology practices with ownership in anatomical pathology services and/or intensity modulated radiation therapy. By 2014, small percentages (7%-16%) of New Jersey, Florida and Texas urologists were employed by a health system, whereas more than half of New Jersey urologists and about 43% of urologists in Florida and Texas were members of large practices. This is compared to California urologists of which only 17.5% had ownership in intensity modulated radiation therapy and/or pathology services. The researchers highlighted that the study indicators of market share of urologists connected with each practice structure type were highly correlated with indicators of market share based on quantity of prostate cancer events treated by each type of practice structure.
AHRQ-funded; HS024972.
Citation: Mitchell JM, Gresenz CR .
Documenting horizontal integration among urologists who treat prostate cancer.
Med Care Res Rev 2022 Feb;79(1):141-50. doi: 10.1177/1077558720980552..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Provider: Physician
Carpenter K, Scavotto M, McGovern A
Early parental knowledge of late effect risks in children with cancer.
This study assessed early parental knowledge of late effect risks in children with cancer. The cohort included parents of children receiving cancer treatment at Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders Center. The parents were surveyed about their knowledge of their child’s likelihood of eight late effects. Only 11 out of 96 parents correctly identified all their child’s risk for the eight late effects. Five of eight effects were the median number of correctly identified late effect risks. Among the 21 parents whose children were at risk for ototoxicity, 95% correctly identified this risk. Conversely, parents were less knowledgeable about risks of second malignancy, cardiac toxicity, neurocognitive impairment, and infertility.
AHRQ-funded; HS022986.
Citation: Carpenter K, Scavotto M, McGovern A .
Early parental knowledge of late effect risks in children with cancer.
Pediatr Blood Cancer 2022 Feb;69(2):e29473. doi: 10.1002/pbc.29473..
Keywords: Children/Adolescents, Cancer, Risk, Education: Patient and Caregiver, Health Literacy
Rosenberg SM, O'Neill A, Sepucha K
Quality of life following receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab in patients with lymph node-positive and high-risk lymph node-negative breast cancer.
The authors sought to describe and evaluate factors associated with diminished quality of life (QOL) following completion of active breast cancer treatment. They conducted a survey with patients 18 months after enrollment and found that the addition of bevacizumab to chemotherapy was not negatively associated with QOL at 18 months. A substantial proportion of participants reported problems related to pain or discomfort and anxiety or depression; as many reported problems can be amenable to intervention, timely referral to supportive resources, especially for women of color and those who have more extensive local therapy, is indicated.
AHRQ-funded; HS023680.
Citation: Rosenberg SM, O'Neill A, Sepucha K .
Quality of life following receipt of adjuvant chemotherapy with and without bevacizumab in patients with lymph node-positive and high-risk lymph node-negative breast cancer.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Feb;5(2):e220254. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.0254..
Keywords: Quality of Life, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women
Joyce DD, Wallis CJD, Luckenbaugh AN
Sexual function outcomes of radiation and androgen deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer in men with good baseline function.
This retrospective review study sought to compare sexual function through 5 years for men undergoing radiation treatment for localized prostate cancer with and without systemic androgen deprivation therapy. Out of a cohort of 167 patients, 73 underwent radiation alone and 94 received androgen therapy deprivation therapy plus radiation. Androgen deprivation therapy was associated with worse sexual function through the first year regardless of disease risk. By 3 years the difference was no longer significant for the 51 patients with intermediate-risk disease. Worse sexual function for high-risk disease patients who received androgen deprivation therapy was shown at 3 years but not at 5 years.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356; HS022640.
Citation: Joyce DD, Wallis CJD, Luckenbaugh AN .
Sexual function outcomes of radiation and androgen deprivation therapy for localized prostate cancer in men with good baseline function.
Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2022 Feb;25(2):238-47. doi: 10.1038/s41391-021-00405-5..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Sexual Health, Men's Health
Dossett LA, Mott NM, Bredbeck BC
Using tailored messages to target overuse of Low-Value breast cancer care in older women.
The purpose of this study was to examine the role that an individual’s maximizing-minimizing trait, an inherent preference for more or less medical care, may influence the preference for low-value care in the omission of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and post-lumpectomy radiotherapy in women 70 years of age or higher with early-stage, hormone-receptor positive invasive breast cancer. The researchers recruited women 70 years of age or higher (n=1600) who were maximizers (515), minimizers (550), or neutral (535), and presented them with a hypothetical breast cancer diagnosis and then randomized exposure to one of three follow-up messages. Messages included: 1) maximizer-tailored, 2) minimizer-tailored, or 3) neutral. The study reported that higher maximizing tendency correlated positively with electing both SLNB and radiotherapy on logistic regression. Any maximizer- or minimizer-tailoring decreased preference for SLNB in maximizing and neutral women but had no effect in minimizing women. Tailoring had no impact on radiotherapy decision, except for an increased probability of minimizers electing radiotherapy when presented with maximizer-tailored messaging. The study concluded that among women facing a hypothetical breast cancer diagnosis, tendencies for maximizing-minimizing are correlated with preferences for treatment.
AHRQ-funded; HS026030.
Citation: Dossett LA, Mott NM, Bredbeck BC .
Using tailored messages to target overuse of Low-Value breast cancer care in older women.
J Surg Res 2022 Feb;270:503-12. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2021.10.005..
Keywords: Elderly, Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women, Decision Making, Clinician-Patient Communication, Communication
Roberson ML, Nichols HB, Wheeler
Validity of breast cancer surgery treatment information in a state-based cancer registry.
Surgery is an important part of early stage breast cancer treatment that affects overall survival. Statewide cancer registries contain data on first course of cancer treatment for all patients diagnosed with cancer but the accuracy of these data are uncertain. In this study, the authors examined validity of breast cancer surgery treatment information in a state-based cancer registry.
AHRQ-funded; HS027299.
Citation: Roberson ML, Nichols HB, Wheeler .
Validity of breast cancer surgery treatment information in a state-based cancer registry.
Cancer Causes Control 2022 Feb;33(2):261-69. doi: 10.1007/s10552-021-01520-3..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Surgery, Registries
Schapira L, Zheng Y, Gelber SI
Trajectories of fear of cancer recurrence in young breast cancer survivors.
This prospective cohort study examined the effects of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) among 965 young women enrolled in the Young Women’s Breast Cancer Study who are ≤40 years and had been diagnosed with stage 0 to stage III breast cancer. These women completed the 3-item Lasry Fear or Recurrence Index survey. Five FCR trajectories were identified with a majority of participants having moderate or high FCR that improved over time. A total of 6.9% participants had moderate FCR that worsened, and 21.7% had a high FCR at baseline that didn’t go lower throughout the study. White women had higher odds of being in a trajectory that improved over time than non-White women. One-third of women with severe FCR did not improve or worsened over 5 years after diagnosis. The authors indicated these women may require targeted mental health intervention.
AHRQ-funded; HS023680.
Citation: Schapira L, Zheng Y, Gelber SI .
Trajectories of fear of cancer recurrence in young breast cancer survivors.
Cancer 2022 Jan 15;128(2):335-43. doi: 10.1002/cncr.33921..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Women
Cham S, Landrum MB, Keating NL
Use of germline BRCA testing in patients with ovarian cancer and commercial insurance.
The authors examined commercially insured populations to identify patient-, physician-, and practice-level characteristics associated with ovarian cancer testing rates. They found that only 33.9% of patients with commercial insurance were tested during the time period studied. Medical and gynecologic oncologists had similar rates of testing, while other physicians tested less often. Although independent practices often lack access to genetic counselors, women in this study had insurance coverage for in-person and telephonic counseling.
AHRQ-funded; HS024072.
Citation: Cham S, Landrum MB, Keating NL .
Use of germline BRCA testing in patients with ovarian cancer and commercial insurance.
JAMA Netw Open 2022 Jan 4;5(1):e2142703. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.42703..
Keywords: Cancer: Ovarian Cancer, Cancer, Screening, Genetics, Health Insurance, Women
Dionne-Odom JN, Wells RD, Guastaferro K
An early palliative care telehealth coaching intervention to enhance advanced cancer family caregivers' decision support skills: the CASCADE pilot factorial trial.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and efficacy of the modules of a telehealth palliative care decision support training program (CASCADE training- CAre Supporters Coached to be Adept DEcision Partners) for caregivers of cancer patients. The researchers conducted a pilot trial between October 2019 and October 2020 in which 46 dyads of newly diagnosed cancer patients and their caregivers were randomized and assigned to one of eight experimental conditions. Each experimental condition included a combination of one of three CASCADE modules. Measures of decision support and caregiver and patient distress, training feasibility, and training acceptability were collected. The study found that the individual CASCADE modules were reported to have a possible benefit for decision support and caregiver distress, and that the average caregiver rating for recommending the program was 9.9 on a scale of 1(Not at all likely) to 10 (Extremely likely). The study concluded that the pilot trial was a success and justify and warrant a full-scale trial.
AHRQ-funded; HS013852.
Citation: Dionne-Odom JN, Wells RD, Guastaferro K .
An early palliative care telehealth coaching intervention to enhance advanced cancer family caregivers' decision support skills: the CASCADE pilot factorial trial.
J Pain Symptom Manage 2022 Jan;63(1):11-22. doi: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2021.07.023..
Keywords: Palliative Care, Cancer, Telehealth, Health Information Technology (HIT), Caregiving
Mojica CM, Gunn R, Pham R
An observational study of workflows to support fecal testing for colorectal cancer screening in primary care practices serving Medicaid enrollees.
This study was conducted to describe clinical workflows for fecal immunochemical tests/fecal occult blood tests (FIT/FOBT) in Oregon primary care practices and to identify specific workflow processes that might be associated with higher colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates. Findings showed that primary care practices with higher CRC screening rates among newly age-eligible Medicaid enrollees had more established visit-based and population outreach workflows to support identifying patients due for screening, FIT/FOBT distribution, reminders, and follow up. Higher CRC screening was associated with having medical assistants discuss and review FIT/FOBT screening and instructions with patients.
AHRQ-funded; HS022981.
Citation: Mojica CM, Gunn R, Pham R .
An observational study of workflows to support fecal testing for colorectal cancer screening in primary care practices serving Medicaid enrollees.
BMC Cancer 2022 Jan 25;22(1):106. doi: 10.1186/s12885-021-09106-7..
Keywords: Workflow, Screening, Cancer: Colorectal Cancer, Cancer, Primary Care, Vulnerable Populations
Wallis CJD, Zhao Z, Huang LC
Association of treatment modality, functional outcomes, and baseline characteristics with treatment-related regret among men with localized prostate cancer.
Treatment-related regret is an integrative, patient-centered measure that accounts for morbidity, oncologic outcomes, and anxiety associated with prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment. The objective of this study was to assess the association between treatment approach, functional outcomes, and patient expectations and treatment-related regret among patients with localized prostate cancer. The investigators concluded that the findings of their cohort study suggested that more than 1 in 10 patients with localized prostate cancer experienced treatment-related regret.
AHRQ-funded; HS019356; HS022640.
Citation: Wallis CJD, Zhao Z, Huang LC .
Association of treatment modality, functional outcomes, and baseline characteristics with treatment-related regret among men with localized prostate cancer.
JAMA Oncol 2022 Jan;8(1):50-59. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2021.5160..
Keywords: Cancer: Prostate Cancer, Cancer, Men's Health, Patient-Centered Outcomes Research
Kho RM, Desai VB, Schwartz PE
Endometrial sampling for preoperative diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma.
This retrospective cohort study examined the effectiveness of endometrial sampling for preoperative detection of uterine leiomyosarcoma in women undergoing hysterectomy, identified factors associated with missed diagnosis, and compared the outcomes of patients who had a preoperative diagnosis with those patients who had a missed diagnosis. A total of 79 patients with uterine leiomyosarcoma were included in the study. Of those patients, 46 (58.2%) were diagnosed preoperatively and 33 postoperatively. The groups were similar in age, race/ethnicity, bleeding symptoms, and comorbidities. Women who had endometrial sampling performed with hysteroscopy had a higher likelihood of preoperative diagnosis. Patients with localized stage (vs distant stage) or tumor size >11 cm were less likely to be diagnosed preoperatively.
AHRQ-funded; HS024702.
Citation: Kho RM, Desai VB, Schwartz PE .
Endometrial sampling for preoperative diagnosis of uterine leiomyosarcoma.
J Minim Invasive Gynecol 2022 Jan;29(1):119-27. doi: 10.1016/j.jmig.2021.07.004.
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Keywords: Cancer, Diagnostic Safety and Quality, Surgery, Women
Kang MM, Hasan Y, Waller J
Has hypofractionated whole-breast radiation therapy become the standard of care in the United States? An updated report from National Cancer Database.
This study examined trends in the use of hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (HF-WBI) over time in the United States and factors related to its adoption for patients undergoing a lumpectomy from 2004 to 2016. Lumpectomy patients in the National Cancer Database were identified, with 688,079 early-stage invasive breast cancer patients, and 248,218 patients diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ. Among invasive cancer patients, HB-WBI use increased from 0.7% in 2004 to 38.1% in 2016. Among ductal carcinoma in situ patients, HB-WBI use increased significantly from 0.42% in 2004 to 34.3% in 2016. Factors associated with HB-WBI use included age, geographic location, race/ethnicity, tumor stage, grade, treating facility type, and volume.
AHRQ-funded; HS025806.
Citation: Kang MM, Hasan Y, Waller J .
Has hypofractionated whole-breast radiation therapy become the standard of care in the United States? An updated report from National Cancer Database.
Clin Breast Cancer 2022 Jan;22(1):e8-e20. doi: 10.1016/j.clbc.2021.05.016..
Keywords: Cancer: Breast Cancer, Cancer, Treatments, Practice Patterns