Association of Care Processes With Timely, Equitable Postoperative Radiotherapy in Patients With Surgically Treated Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
; 144(12): 1105-1114, 2018 12 01.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-30347012
ABSTRACT
Importance Delays in initiation of postoperative radiotherapy (PORT) after surgery for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) are common, predominantly affect racial minorities, and are associated with decreased survival. Details regarding the care processes that contribute to timely, equitable PORT remain unknown. Objective:
To determine care processes associated with timely, equitable PORT. Design, Setting, andParticipants:
This retrospective cohort study included patients 18 years or older undergoing surgery for HNSCC at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Charleston, followed by PORT (at MUSC or elsewhere) with or without chemotherapy from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2016. Data were analyzed from September 15, 2017, through June 28, 2018. Main Outcomes andMeasures:
The main outcome measure was the proportion of timely, guideline-adherent initiation of PORT (≤6 weeks postoperatively). Secondary outcome measures included care processes associated with timely PORT. The association between process variables with timely PORT was explored using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Effect modification of the association between receipt of care processes and timely PORT by race was explored using interaction effects.Results:
A total of 197 patients were included in the analysis; they were predominantly white (157 [79.7%]) and male (136 [69.0%]) with a mean age of 59 years (range, 28-89 years). Overall, 89 patients (45.2%) experienced a delay initiating PORT. African American patients had a 13.5% absolute increase in the rate of delayed PORT relative to white patients (21 of 37 [56.8%] vs 68 of 157 [43.3%]). The adjusted multivariable regression showed that the following care processes were associated with timely PORT preoperative radiotherapy consultation (odds ratio [OR], 8.94; 95% CI, 1.64-65.53), PORT at MUSC (OR, 6.21; 95% CI, 1.85-24.75), pathology report within 7 postoperative days (OR, 4.14; 95% CI, 1.21-15.86), time from surgery to PORT referral of no longer than 10 days (OR, 12.14; 95% CI, 3.14-63.00), time from PORT referral to consultation of no longer than 10 days (OR, 10.76; 95% CI, 3.01-49.70), and time from PORT consultation to its start of no longer than 21 days (OR, 4.80; 95% CI 1.41-18.44). Analysis of interactions revealed no statistically significant differences between African American and white patients in receipt of key processes associated with timely PORT. Conclusions and Relevance Specific care processes are associated with guideline-adherent initiation of PORT. Novel strategies appear to be needed to ensure that these processes are performed for all patients with HNSCC, thereby facilitating timely, equitable PORT.
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Process Assessment, Health Care
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Guideline Adherence
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Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
Type of study:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limits:
Adult
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Aged
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Aged80
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Female
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Humans
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Male
/
Middle aged
Country/Region as subject:
America do norte
Language:
En
Journal:
JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg
Year:
2018
Document type:
Article