A Comparative Survey Study of In-Person Versus Virtual Trauma Peer Review Meetings.

BACKGROUND: The American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma mandates regular peer review meetings for verified trauma centers. The COVID-19 pandemic forced in-person meetings to transition to an online platform. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to assess the opinions of participants regarding the benefits and negative aspects of the virtual peer review process. We hypothesize that physicians and nurses would prefer a virtual meeting format. METHODS: An anonymous online survey of members of the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma and the Society of Trauma Nurses was distributed in May and June of 2021. Demographic data and Likert scale-based responses were collected using the Research Electronic Data Capture platform. RESULTS: Invitations were sent to 1,726 physicians and 2,912 nurses. In total, 137 (8%) physicians and 141 (5%) nurses completed the survey. Both groups felt that either platform was effective in addressing opportunities for improvement in care. Physicians disagreed with the statement that anonymous online voting improved their ability to more accurately address opportunities for improvement. In total, 108 (79%) physicians and 100 (71%) nurses preferred a hybrid meeting. Only 18 (13%) physicians and 23 (16%) nurses wanted virtual meetings, whereas only 29 (21%) physicians and 36 (26%) nurses wanted in-person meetings going forward. CONCLUSIONS: Virtual and in-person trauma peer review meetings are equally effective in terms of case discussion and identifying opportunities for improvement in care. Given that most people preferred a hybrid meeting, future studies evaluating how best to incorporate and implement this format are needed.

Trans-sectoral care in patients with colorectal cancer: Protocol of the randomized controlled multi-center trial Supportive Cancer Care Networkers (SCAN).

BACKGROUND: Managing therapy-related side-effects and improving health-related quality of life in patients with colorectal cancer is still challenging. The need for an effective management of adverse events and unmet supportive care needs have been widely discussed. In the past decade, interventions by nursing staff gained more and more importance. Evidence suggests that a majority of patients even in early stages of the disease experience substantial impairments potentially resulting in diminished therapy adherence as well as impaired quality of life. However, evidence for the effectiveness of nurse-led interventions on symptom management and quality of life is still very limited. This especially applies to care transitions between different inpatient and outpatient health care providers throughout the course of treatment and aftercare. METHODS/DESIGN: Supportive Cancer Care Networkers (SCAN) is a prospective randomized controlled trial conducted in eight large and middle-sized German cancer centers and municipal hospitals. The target population is adults with colorectal cancer UICC I-III after initial R-0 resection scheduled for adjuvant chemotherapy or guideline-based aftercare only. 370 patients will be randomly assigned to either intervention or control group. Patients in the intervention group will receive an additional support by specialized oncology nurses for eight weeks after discharge from hospital by telephone, consisting of symptom monitoring, counselling on self-assessment and self-management and dealing with individual resources for coping and psychosocial well-being. The primary endpoint will be health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at eight weeks after discharge from the initial treating hospital. DISCUSSION: The presented SCAN trial is to provide information that will be useful to advance our understanding of complex interdependencies between symptom severity, supportive care needs, functioning and the risk for diminished HRQoL. Most importantly, these patient-reported outcomes are not fully implemented in today's clinical routine practice potentially resulting in therapy cessations and lower chemotherapy treatment rates for colorectal cancer especially in older patients. TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT01651832.

Factors Influencing Global Health Related Quality of Life in Elderly Cancer Patients: Results of a Secondary Data Analysis.

Cancer treatment for elderly patients is often complicated by poor physical condition, impaired functioning and comorbidities. Patient reported health related quality of life (HRQOL) can contribute to decisions about treatment goals and supportive therapy. Knowledge about factors influencing HRQOL is therefore needed for the development of supportive measures and care pathways. An exploratory secondary data analysis on 518 assessments of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) core questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the elderly module (EORTC QLQ-ELD14) was performed to identify factors predictive for global HRQOL. Preliminary simple and multivariable regression analyses were conducted resulting in a final model comprising sociodemographic and disease specific variables and scales of the QLQ-C30 and QLQ-ELD14. Age, sex and disease related variables explained only part of the variance of global HRQOL (adjusted R2 = 0.203). In the final model (adjusted R2 = 0.504) fatigue, social function, burden of illness and joint stiffness showed possible influence on global HRQOL. Fatigue, social function and burden of illness seem to have the largest impact on global HRQOL of elderly cancer patients. Further prospective studies should examine these domains. Actionable symptoms should be given special attention to initiate targeted supportive measures aiming to maximize HRQOL of older cancer patients.

Invitation to Screening Colonoscopy in the Population at Familial Risk for Colorectal Cancer.

BACKGROUND: Screening colonoscopy can lower the incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC), yet participation rates are low even in groups at high risk. The goal of this study was to double the rate of participation in screening colonoscopy among persons at familial risk and then to determine the frequency of neoplasia in this risk group. METHODS: In a nationwide, cluster-randomized, multicenter study, first-degree relatives (FDR) of patients with CRC across Germany received written informational materials concerning the familial risk of CRC, along with an invitation to undergo colonoscopy. Participants in the intervention group were additionally counseled by nurses over the telephone. The primary endpoint of the study was colonoscopy uptake within 30 days. RESULTS: The participants' mean age was 50.8 years. The colonoscopy uptake rates were 99/125 (79%) in the intervention group and 97/136 (71%) in the control group (RR = 1.11; 95% confidence interval [0.97; 1.28]). A polypectomy was performed in 72 of 196 asymptomatic persons (37%). In 13 cases (7%), an advanced neoplasia was detected; two of these persons had colon cancer (stages T0 and T1). 42% of the participants expressed barriers against colonoscopy. 22 reported mild side effects; there were no serious side effects. CONCLUSION: Additional counseling by nurses over the telephone does not increase the participation rate. Approaching patients who have CRC is an opportunity to increase the participation of their first-degree relatives in screening colonoscopy. The frequency of neoplasia that was found in this study underscores the need to screen relatives even before they reach the usual age threshold for screening.

Trans sectoral care of geriatric cancer patients based on comprehensive geriatric assessment and patient-reported quality of life - Results of a multicenter study to develop and pilot test a patient-centered interdisciplinary care concept for geriatric oncology patients (PIVOG).

OBJECTIVES: For older patients with cancer the maintenance of independence, functionality and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is of great importance. Aiming to maintain HRQOL of older patients with cancer we developed an interdisciplinary care program based on comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) and patient-reported HRQOL comprising tailored supportive measures and telephone-based counseling during 6month aftercare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Pilot-testing of the intervention took place in three centers at the University Hospital Halle to examine feasibility, acceptance and potential benefit. Patients≥70years with confirmed diagnosis of cancer, at least one comorbidity and/or one functional impairment, receiving curative or palliative care were eligible. Primary endpoint was global HRQOL (EORTC QLQ C30). RESULTS: Mean age of the participants (n=100) was 76.3years (SD 4.8), 47% were female. On average they had 5 comorbidities (SD 2.8, min. 0, max. 15) and took 8 prescribed medications (SD 3.6, min. 0, max. 15). According to predefined treatment pathways, supportive care was triggered by summarized individual assessments that were presented to the treating physicians. Descriptive analyses showed that global HRQOL measured at the 6-month follow-up (n=57) had declined (≥10 points) for n=16 (28%) and improved or remained unchanged for n=41 (72%) patients, although some functional scales (e.g. mobility, role function) and some symptoms (e.g. fatigue, pain) had worsened. The nurse-led telephone-based aftercare was well accepted. CONCLUSION: The results show feasibility and potential benefit of the combination of CGA and HRQOL to complement standard assessments. Patient-reported symptoms and functioning indicate the need for intensified supportive therapy during aftercare.

[Trans-sectoral care for patients with colorectal cancer: Design of a prospective randomized controlled multi-center trial (FKZ 01GY1143)]. / Sektorübergreifende Versorgung von Darmkrebspatienten: Design einer randomisierten kontrollierten Multicenter-Studie (FKZ 01GY1143).

BACKGROUND: Health-related quality of life (HrQoL) is an increasingly focused aim in the care for patients with colorectal cancer that are treated with curative intent. Achieving this aim partly depends on the quality of the transsectoral management of these patients throughout the entire treatment course. However, recent population-based surveys have shown that HrQoL in patients with colorectal cancer is significantly impaired over a long time following initial diagnosis. This also applies to patients for whom adjuncant chemotherapy is not indicated according to the German medical S3 guideline. In addition, the patients' need for medical and psychosocial support has repeatedly been reported to persist at a significantly increased level - despite the extensive establishment of certified cancer centres which has apparently failed to solve this problem sufficiently. AIM: The SCAN intervention aims to increase the percentage of patients reaching an enhancement of their HrQoL by at least 12 points (range: 0-100 pts.) within eight weeks after hospital discharge by 15 percent compared to standard care. DESIGN AND METHODS: The SCAN intervention is carried out as a randomised controlled multicentre trial in seven large- and middle-sized hospitals all over Saxony-Anhalt. 370 patients have been enrolled, 185 of whom are offered additional nurse-led outpatient counselling. INTERVENTION: Patients in the intervention group are offered transitional guidance and support consisting of routine symptom assessment and patient counselling regarding self-management, informed therapy-related decision-making and psychosocial support. ENDPOINTS: The primary endpoint of the study is the patients' global health-related quality of life (HrQoL), assessed by the EORTC Quality of Life Questionnaire QLQ C-30 V3.0, item 30. Disease-free survival within eight months, the utilisation of indicated adjuvant chemotherapies as well as therapy-related side effects, e. g., anxiety and depression and the patients' symptom burden are monitored as secondary endpoints. EXPECTED RESULTS: We assume that the SCAN intervention will be effective in increasing the percentage of patients reaching a clinically relevant enhancement of their HrQoL within eight weeks after hospital discharge by 15 percent compared to standard care.