Patient and Therapist Perceptions of a Publicly Funded Internet-Based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (iCBT) Program for Ontario Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Qualitative Study.

BACKGROUND: To address the anticipated rise in mental health symptoms experienced at the population level during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ontario government provided 2 therapist-assisted internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy (iCBT) programs to adults free of charge at the point of service. OBJECTIVE: The study aims to explore the facilitators of and barriers to implementing iCBT at the population level in Ontario, Canada, from the perspective of patients and therapists to better understand how therapist-assisted iCBT programs can be effectively implemented at the population level and inform strategies for enhancing service delivery and integration into the health care system. METHODS: Using a convenience sampling methodology, semistructured interviews were conducted with 10 therapists who delivered iCBT and 20 patients who received iCBT through either of the publicly funded programs to explore their perspectives of the program. Interview data were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis to generate themes. RESULTS: Six salient themes were identified. Facilitators included the therapist-assisted nature of the program; the ease of registration and the lack of cost; and the feasibility of completing the psychoeducational modules given the online and self-paced nature of the program. Barriers included challenges with the online remote modality for developing the therapeutic alliance; the program's generalized nature, which limited customization to individual needs; and a lack of formal integration between the iCBT program and the health care system. CONCLUSIONS: Although the program was generally well-received by patients and therapists due to its accessibility and feasibility, the digital format of the program presented both benefits and unique challenges. Strategies for improving the quality of service delivery include opportunities for synchronous communication between therapists and patients, options for increased customization, and the formal integration of iCBT into a broader stepped-care model that centralizes patient referrals between care providers and promotes continuity of care.

Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy for treatment resistant depression: A randomized clinical trial evaluating repeated doses of psilocybin.

BACKGROUND: Psilocybin-assisted psychotherapy (PAP) has been associated with antidepressant effects. Trials to date have typically excluded participants with complex presentations. Our aim was to determine the feasibility of PAP in a complex population, including high levels of treatment resistance in major depressive and bipolar disorder and patients with baseline suicidality and significant comorbidity. We also evaluated flexible repeated doses over a 6-month period. METHODS: Adults with treatment-resistant depression as part of major depressive or bipolar II disorder without psychosis or a substance use disorder were eligible to participate. Subjects were randomized to immediate treatment or waitlist control, with all eventually receiving PAP. Participants had one, two, or three psilocybin sessions with a fixed dose of 25 mg. Each dose was accompanied by preparation and integration psychotherapy sessions. Acceptability, safety, tolerability, and efficacy were evaluated (this study was registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05029466). FINDINGS: Participants were randomized to immediate treatment (n = 16) or delayed treatment (n = 14). 29/30 were retained to the week-2 primary endpoint. Adverse events were transient, with no serious adverse events. Greater reductions in depression severity as measured by the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) were observed in the immediate treatment arm compared to the waitlist period arm with a large hedge's g effect size of 1.07 (p < 0.01). Repeated doses were associated with further reductions in MADRS scores compared to baseline. CONCLUSIONS: PAP was feasible in complex patients with preliminary antidepressant efficacy and adequate safety and tolerability. Repeated doses were associated with greater reductions in depression severity. FUNDING: This work was funded by Brain and Cognition Discovery Foundation (BCDF), Usona, and Braxia Scientific.

Assessing Student Attitudes Regarding Cost-Consciousness in Medical Education.

This article was migrated. The article was marked as recommended. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare attitudes regarding cost-consciousness between student populations at two medical schools in the United States and Canada. Method: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of students at Harvard Medical School and University of Toronto. We performed chi-square analyses comparing responses from the two institutions. Results: Response rates were 48% (n=162) and 45% (n=228) at Harvard and the University of Toronto, respectively. At both institutions, >96% of students agreed clinicians at all stages of training should be familiar with cost-conscious decision-making, 80% agreed physicians are responsible for discussing healthcare costs with patients, and over 80% felt they had too little education on the topic in medical school. Students differed in opinions about the extent to which patients should inquire about costs, with students at Harvard more likely to endorse this opinion compared with those from Toronto (51% vs 28%, respectively), and differed over whether cost-consciousness led to rationing of healthcare (Harvard 30% vs Toronto 51%). Fewer than 10% of all students expressed concerns that incorporating costs into care was unethical. Overall, 85% of students from both countries would like more formal teaching on this topic. Discussion: Students from both schools strongly endorsed a need to learn more about cost-conscious decision-making. Findings suggest students in both systems can benefit from learning similar core concepts related to high-value, cost-conscious care, and teaching in this topic can be customized to reflect specific differences in expectations and practices in the two healthcare systems.

The accuracy of endorectal ultrasound in staging rectal lesions in patients undergoing transanal endoscopic microsurgery.

BACKGROUND: Endorectal ultrasound (ERUS) is used to preoperatively assess locoregional stage in patients with rectal neoplasms. This study evaluates the accuracy of ERUS in determining the T stage of rectal neoplasms treated by transanal endoscopic microsurgery (TEM). METHODS: All patients in the St Paul's Hospital TEM database were evaluated and excluded if they had been treated with neoadjuvant therapy. ERUS results were compared with gold-standard postoperative histopathology reports. Tumor height from anal verge was measured by ERUS and endoscopic techniques. RESULTS: Fifty-three patients were eligible to participate in the study. A Friedman test demonstrated significant difference in the T stage between ERUS and the histopathology reports (P < .001). The tumor height measured by ERUS is significantly higher than the height measured by endoscopy (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms that ERUS often overstages rectal neoplasms and suggests that ERUS findings should not preclude TEM in clinically appropriate patients.

Prevalence of Physiologic Sexual Dysfunction Is High Following Treatment for Rectal Cancer: But Is It the Only Thing That Matters?

BACKGROUND: Although several studies have reported high rates of sexual dysfunction in patients treated for rectal cancer, most studies have been limited by retrospective design, failure to use validate instruments, and a limited number of female patients. OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to 1) prospectively assess changes in sexual function before and after treatment for rectal cancer and 2) identify potential areas for improved care of patients who have rectal cancer with sexual dysfunction. DESIGN: This study is a prospective, longitudinal survey. SETTINGS: This study was conducted at 4 tertiary care academic hospitals. PATIENTS: The patients included had newly diagnosed rectal cancer. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Subjects completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment Quality of Life Cancer Module and Colorectal Cancer Module, International Index of Erectile Function, and Female Sexual Function Index questionnaires before the start of treatment, after the completion of preoperative chemoradiotherapy, and 1 year after surgery. RESULTS: Forty-five patients completed the study, and the overall results showed significant sexual dysfunction in both male and female subjects that continued to increase from baseline up to 1 year after surgery. In male subjects, sexual activity, interest, and enjoyment remained relatively stable, despite increasing sexual problems. However, for female patients, although sexual activity and interest remained relatively stable, sexual enjoyment worsened as sexual problems increased. LIMITATIONS: The study closed before reaching the target sample size owing to lower than anticipated accrual rates. Post hoc analysis included qualitative interviews with patients to explore reasons for low recruitment. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study show that sexual problems continue to increase up to 1 year after surgery. Despite this, sexual interest in both male and female patients remained relatively unchanged suggesting that other aspects of sexuality, not just physiologic function, also need to be evaluated. Future studies to assist and educate physicians on how to initiate a discussion about sexuality and identify patients in "distress" because of sexual problems are important.

Using patient and physician perspectives to develop a shared decision-making framework for colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of death from cancer worldwide with over 900,000 diagnoses and 639,000 deaths each year. Although shared decision making is broadly advocated as a mechanism by which to achieve patient-centred care, there has been little investigation of patient and physician shared decision-making preferences and practices or the outcomes associated with shared decision making in the context of colorectal cancer. AIM: The aim of this study is to determine patient and physician attitudes towards the use of shared decision making in the setting of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Standard principles of qualitative research will be used to sample and interview 20 colorectal cancer patients in each of three tertiary care hospitals (n = 60) and 15 surgeons, radiation oncologists, and medical oncologists (n = 45) affiliated with cancer centres. The interview questions will be guided by a conceptual framework defining patient and physician factors that influence the shared decision-making process and associated outcomes in the setting of colorectal cancer. An inductive, grounded approach will be used by two investigators to independently analyze the interview transcripts. These investigators will meet to compare and achieve consensus on themes that will be tabulated to compare barriers, enablers, and outcomes of shared decision making by patient, physician, and contextual factors. DISCUSSION: This study is the first to examine both patient and physician perspectives on the use of shared decision making for colorectal cancer in North America or elsewhere. It will provide a framework that can be used to describe the shared decision-making process and its outcomes, and evaluate strategies to facilitate this process for patients with colorectal cancer.

Development of a synoptic MRI report for primary rectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is an important imaging modality for pre-operative staging and surgical planning of rectal cancer, to date there has been little investigation on the completeness and overall quality of MRI reports. This is important because optimal patient care depends on the quality of the MRI report and clear communication of these reports to treating physicians. Previous work has shown that the use of synoptic pathology reports improves the quality of pathology reports and communication between physicians. METHODS: The aims of this project are to develop a synoptic MRI report for rectal cancer and determine the enablers and barriers toward the implementation of a synoptic MRI report for rectal cancer in the clinical setting. A three-step Delphi process with an expert panel will extract the key criteria for the MRI report to guide pre-operative chemoradiation and surgical planning following a review of the literature, and a synoptic template will be developed. Furthermore, standardized qualitative research methods will be used to conduct interviews with radiologists to determine the enablers and barriers to the implementation and sustainability of the synoptic MRI report in the clinic setting. CONCLUSION: Synoptic MRI reports for rectal cancer are currently not used in North America and may improve the overall quality of MRI report and communication between physicians. This may, in turn, lead to improved patient care and outcomes for rectal cancer patients.