Travel-associated cost savings to patients and the health system through provision of specialist head and neck surgery outreach clinics in rural New South Wales, Australia.

INTRODUCTION: Centralisation of head and neck surgical services means that patients in regional and remote Australia need to travel long distances for treatment and follow-up, imparting a significant financial burden on patients and the health system. OBJECTIVE: To estimate costs of travel to local outreach clinics and determine potential cost savings to patients and the health system by avoiding patient travel to major cities for head and neck surgical care. DESIGN: Retrospective audit of three head and neck surgery outreach clinics in New South Wales, Australia over 4 years (2017-2020). Direct costs of travel from a patient's residence to their local outreach clinic were estimated. Costs of travel and accommodation to Sydney for an appointment were calculated for different travel modes. Estimated reimbursements for travel through government support schemes were calculated based on published rates. FINDINGS: Some 657 patients attended the three clinics, accounting for 1981 appointments. Depending on mode of travel, the estimated median cost of return travel (including accommodation) to Sydney was $379 to $739 per patient per trip and the median government reimbursement ranged from $182 to $279 per trip. In comparison, the cost of return travel by car to local outreach clinics ranged from $28 to $163 per appointment. Outreach clinics were estimated to save patients a median of $285 per trip and avoided government reimbursements of $215 per trip. DISCUSSION: Despite uptake in telehealth, outreach medical services remain an important asset for people living in regional areas to address inequities in access. However, the cost benefits are likely to be underestimated as our approach did not account for indirect costs associated with travel. CONCLUSION: Outreach head and neck surgical services located in regional areas can reduce the financial burden on both patients and the healthcare system. Greater investment in outreach clinics could ensure sustainability of services to promote equitable access to specialised surgical services.

Assessment of an evidence-based laryngeal cancer fact sheet: A mixed methods study.

To evaluate perceptions of a laryngeal cancer fact sheet amongst people with direct experience of the disease and its treatment. A mixed methods study (questionnaire and interview) evaluating the information resource was conducted across two institutions. In total 20 participants responded to the questionnaire. Overall participants reported the information resource was detailed and understandable. Insufficient information was provided on: impact on family in eight participants (40%); impact on work in six (33%); and, second opinions and long-term side effects in five (25%). The majority (67%) wanted a large amount of information with the preferred source being one-on-one meetings with their doctor. The thematic analysis identified three main themes: preferences for information, self-management; and, information sources. People with direct experience of laryngeal cancer and its treatments reported the information resource was comprehensive and clear. There were some gaps in the information provided, particularly related to survivorship issues.

A prospective study of intraoperative assessment of mucosal squamous cell carcinoma margins in the head and neck.

BACKGROUND: In head and neck cancers, tumor margin assessment has important prognostic and therapeutic implications. Frozen section control of margins is commonly employed intraoperatively. However, this is not without limitations. The aim of this study is to determine whether intraoperative slicing of the whole specimen is feasible and what impact this may have on tumor margin assessment and the requirement for postoperative radiotherapy. METHODS: From September 2016 to August 2018, we recruited 22 patients as a pilot study looking at both the practicalities and the clinical relevance of whole margin tumor analysis intraoperatively. Our project is a prospective single arm study with historical controls. RESULTS: Forty-one percent of our patients required further intraoperative resection for close or involved margins. Seven of these patients who otherwise would have required adjuvant radiotherapy due to their margin status did not, after our intervention. CONCLUSIONS: We found that although requiring resources, this process was feasible without unduly increasing operative times and with potential patient benefit including reduced incidence of adjuvant radiotherapy.

Time and cost-analysis of virtual surgical planning for head and neck reconstruction: A matched pair analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Virtual surgical planning (VSP) uses patient-specific modelling of the facial skeleton to provide a tailored surgical plan which may increase accuracy and reduce operating time. The aim of this study was to perform a time and cost-analysis comparing patients treated with and without VSP-technology. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of 138 patients undergoing microvascular free flap mandible (76.8%) or maxillary (23.2%) reconstruction between 2010 and 2018 was performed. The cohort was divided into two groups according to reconstruction-approach: non-VSP and proprietary-VSP (P-VSP). Cost-analysis was performed comparing non-VSP and P-VSP by matching patients according to site, bone flap, indication, complexity and age. RESULTS: Fibula, scapula and iliac crest free flaps were used in 92 patients (66.7%), 33 patients (23.9%) and 13 patients (9.4%), respectively. Eight patients (5.8%) required revision of the microvascular anastomosis, of which four flaps were salvaged giving a 2.9% flap failure rate. P-VSP was associated with shorter median length of stay (LOS) (10.0 vs 13.0 days, p = 0.009), lower mean procedure time (507.38 vs 561.75 min, p = 0.042), and similar median total cost ($34939.00 vs $34653.00, p = 0.938), despite higher complexity (2.0 vs 1.0, p = 0.09). In the matched-series, P-VSP was associated with a similar median LOS (10.5 vs 11 days), lower mean procedure time (497 vs 555 min, p = 0.231), lower mean total cost ($35,493 v $37,345) but higher median total cost ($35504.50 vs $32391.50, p = 0.607), although not statistically different. CONCLUSION: VSP-technology represents a helpful surgical tool for complex reconstructions, without adversely impacting on the overall-cost of treatment.

Education and support needs in patients with head and neck cancer: A multi-institutional survey.

BACKGROUND: Head and neck cancer (HNC) encompasses a diverse group of tumors, and thus providing appropriate and tailored information to patients before, during, and after treatment is a challenge. The objective of the current study was to characterize the experience and unmet needs of patients with HNC with regard to information and support provision. METHODS: A 28-question, cross-sectional survey was completed by patients treated for HNC at 1 of 4 institutions in New South Wales, Australia (Chris O'Brien Lifehouse and Liverpool, Westmead, and Wollongong hospitals). It consisted of the adapted Kessler Psychological Distress Scale and questions assessing information quality, quantity, and format. RESULTS: A total of 597 patients responded. The mean age of the patients was 58 years (range, 21-94 years) with 284 men and 313 women (1:1.1). The majority of patients reported information concerning the disease process (76%), prognosis (67%), and treatment (77%) was sufficient, and approximately 50% reporting having received little or no information regarding coping with stress and anxiety. A substantial percentage of patients reported receiving minimal information concerning psychosexual health (56%) or the availability of patient support groups (56%). The majority of patients preferred access to multiple modes of information delivery (72%), with the preferred modality being one-on-one meetings with a health educator (37%) followed by internet-based written information (19%). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with HNC are a diverse group, with complex educational and support needs. Patients appear to be given information regarding survivorship topics such as psychological well-being, patient support groups, and psychosexual health less frequently than information concerning disease and treatment. Verbal communication needs to be reinforced by accessible, well-constructed, written and multimedia resources appropriate to the patient's educational level. Cancer 2017;123:1949-1957. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

Swallowing assessment and management pre and post head and neck cancer treatment.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Head and neck cancer (HNC) imposes significant structural, functional, and cosmetic burdens upon those affected. Although advances in multimodality organ preservation therapy have assisted in ameliorating a number of previous treatment-related sequelae, dysphagia remains a foremost concern for members of the multidisciplinary team. Given its acute and long-term impact on physical and psychological wellbeing, and subsequent bearing on delivery of treatment, treatment-related morbidity and overall mortality, prompt recognition, and accurate assessment and optimization of management are pivotal. RECENT FINDINGS: Qualitative research has provided greater insight into the psychosocial burdens dysphagia imposes on HNC patients and carers, highlighting the need for holistic strategies of management. There is a growing body of evidence to support dietary alterations and preventive swallowing exercise regimens for maintenance of oral intake throughout and following HNC therapy. The role of prophylactic enteral feeding, however, remains uncertain, with conflicting institutional data and lack of high-quality prospective studies for meaningful systematic literature assessment. Endoscopic surgical techniques hold promise in relieving stricture-related dysphagia; however, multiple treatments are required and recurrence is common. SUMMARY: Swallowing rehabilitation encompassing education, dietary modification, and swallowing exercises comprise the mainstay of current evidence-based dysphagia management in HNC patients.