An overview of implementing an evidence based program to increase HPV vaccination in HIV community clinics.

BACKGROUND: HPV-related anal cancer occurs in excess rates among people living with HIV (PLWH) and has been increasing in incidence. The HPV vaccine is an effective and safe approach to prevent and reduce the risk of HPV-related disease. Yet, HPV vaccine programs tailored and implemented in the HIV population are lagging for this high-risk group. METHODS: A pre-post intervention study design will be used to tailor, refine, and implement the 4 Pillars™ Practice Transformation Program to increase HPV vaccination among PLWH. Guided by the RE-AIM framework, the CHAMPS study will provide training and motivation to HIV providers and clinic staff to recommend and administer the HPV vaccination within three HIV clinics in Georgia. We plan to enroll 365 HIV participants to receive HPV education, resources, and reminders for HPV vaccination. Sociodemographic, HPV knowledge, and vaccine hesitancy will be assessed as mediators and moderators for HPV vaccination. The primary outcome will be measured as an increase in uptake rate in initiation of the HPV vaccine and vaccine completion (secondary outcome) compared to historical baseline vaccination rate (control). DISCUSSION: The proposed study is a novel approach to address a serious and preventable public health problem by using an efficacious, evidence-based intervention on a new target population. The findings are anticipated to have a significant impact in the field of improving cancer outcomes in a high-risk and aging HIV population. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05065840; October 4, 2021.

Advances in Oral Oncolytic Agents for Breast Cancer and Recommendations for Promoting Adherence.

Hormone receptor positivity and early stage diagnosis are generally considered signs of good prognosis in breast cancer. However, breast cancer all too frequently can become resistant to hormone-based therapies, and women can experience recurrence of their breast cancer decades after the diagnosis of early stage disease. To address the therapeutic needs for advanced and metastatic hormone receptor-positive (HR+) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2-) breast cancer, a number of new drugs have been tested and approved for this indication, including the class of drugs that works as cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) 4/6 inhibitors. These drugs, often combined with other hormone-based therapy, have demonstrated considerable success in clinical trials and are now being used widely in oncology practices. Because all of the currently approved CDK4/6 inhibitor agents (palbociclib, ribociclib, and abemaciclib) are given orally, issues of patient comprehension of and adherence to prescribed regimens should be at the forefront of practitioners' concerns about these drugs. In addition, ways to support and facilitate decision-making by patients related to this class of agents and other therapies recently approved for the same indication require focused attention by health-care providers. Oncology has continued to move toward a more patient-specific, precision medicine approach. Likewise, advanced practitioners have the opportunity to identify patient characteristics, preferences, and needs that are unique to individual patients to enhance precision treatment.

Improving outcomes in breast cancer: where should we target our efforts?

Rural-urban differences in health outcomes, including breast cancer, in the US have been studied for decades, but often with inconsistent findings. Possible reasons include methodological differences, lack of prospective investigations, small number of studies overall, and the tendency to measure rurality as a simple patient-level predictor variable. Studies have tended to assume that the same racial/ethnic cancer disparities found in the general population exist in rural regions, but this conclusion may not always be warranted. Needed are better definitions of rurality; the capability to define important predictor variables such as race, ethnicity, education, and income with greater precision than at present; and data revealing the patient's own perspective regarding care decisions. Future studies should examine whether the impact of rurality status on outcomes varies with geographic location by including the appropriate interaction terms in the outcome prediction models, as well as patient-reported reasons that might explain the outcomes observed.

Neutropenia: state of the knowledge part I.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To review neutrophil physiology, consequences of chemotherapy-induced neutropenia (CIN), CIN risk assessment models, national practice guidelines, the impact of febrile neutropenia and infection, and what is known and unknown about CIN. DATA SOURCES: Extensive review and summary of published neutropenia literature, guidelines, meta-analyses, currently funded National Institutes of Health and Oncology Nursing Society studies, and invited expert panel symposium presentations. DATA SYNTHESIS: A comprehensive review of current literature regarding CIN risk assessment, practice guidelines, management, impact on dose-dense and dose-intense cancer treatment, complications, costs related to hospitalizations, and treatment strategies has been compiled. CONCLUSIONS: CIN is the most common dose-limiting toxicity of cancer therapy. Medical practice guidelines and risk assessment models for appropriate use of myeloid growth factors and management of febrile neutropenia have been developed to assess patients for CIN complications prechemotherapy and during CIN episodes. CIN affects patients, families, practitioners, and the healthcare system. Although much is known about this common chemotherapy complication, a great deal remains to be learned. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING: CIN is a serious and global problem in patients receiving cancer therapy. Oncology nurses need to critically analyze their own practices when assessing, managing, and educating patients and families about CIN.

Nursing interventions in the management of patients with cancer-associated thrombosis.

OBJECTIVES: To provide oncology nurses with an overview of the clinical trial evidence and to help them apply the data to patient management to optimize care and ensure the best possible outcomes. DATA SOURCES: Primary and tertiary literature and the authors' clinical experience. CONCLUSION: Nursing interventions for patients with cancer-associated thrombosis involve such key areas as the need for careful and continuing risk assessment, close monitoring of laboratory values, evaluation of patients as candidates for outpatient management, patient and caregiver education, and monitoring of patient compliance. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE: Oncology nurses provide critical oversight and coordination in the treatment and prevention of venous thromboembolism. These interventions are essential to reducing venous thromboembolism-associated morbidity and mortality.