New approach to implement cancer patient care: The valutazione percorso rete oncologica campana (ValPeROC)-experience from an Italian oncology network.

OBJECTIVE: The primary goal of the Campania Oncology Network (ROC) was to reduce cancer delay and care fragmentation through the establishment of cancer-specific multidisciplinary oncologic groups (GOMs) and diagnostic and therapeutic assistance paths (PDTAs). METHODS: Five cancer centres of the ROC, with their own cancer specific GOM, were selected. In our analysis, we have focused on four neoplasms: lung, colon, ovarian and prostate cancers. The median time for pre-GOM and GOM Times was calculated for each tumour site. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to individuate risk factors for pre-GOM and GOM Time. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed for prostate cancer compared to other patients either for pre-GOM or GOM Times. Significant risks were found for ovarian and prostate cancers in pre-GOM time and for prostate cancer in GOM-Time. CONCLUSIONS: This experience will produce knowledge and data to guide decision-making and to manage more effectively the challenges of fighting cancer in Campania region. The Valutazione Percorso Rete Oncologica Campana (ValPeROC) study evaluates, for the first time, the ROC activity, through the analysis of key performance indices. Pre-GOM and GOM Time represent the quality of the entire regional health system and are useful to define models, which can evaluate the performance of the ROC over time.

[What affects diagnostic and therapeutic times for cancer patients care?] / Cosa influisce sui tempi diagnostici e terapeutici dei pazienti oncologici?

INTRODUCTION: According with "Numbers of cancer in Italy. 2021" mortality is decreasing for both the genders (-10% for men, -8% for women) in Italy. However, this trend is not uniform and seems stable in the Southern regions. Analyses of oncological care in Campania Region highlighted some structural critical issues and delays, which did not guarantee an efficient and effective use of the available economic resources. So, the Campania region established in September 2016 the Campania oncological network (Roc) addressed to prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of tumours through the establishment of multidisciplinary oncological groups (Gom). In February 2020, the ValPeRoc project was launched with the aim of periodically and progressively evaluating the Roc's performance both for the clinical services and for the economic aspects. METHODS: In five Goms (colon, ovary, lung, prostate, bladder) active in some Roc hospitals, the pre-Gom time elapsing between the date of diagnosis and the date of the first Gom meeting and the Gom time elapsing between the date of the first Gom meeting and the date of the treatment decision were measured. Gom times longer than 28 days were defined as high. The risk of high Gom time was analyzed with a Bart-type machine learning algorithm, considering the set of regressors (features) available to classify patients. RESULTS: The results on the test set (54 patients) report an accuracy of 0.68. The classification technique reported a good fit for colon Gom (93%) and an over-classification for lung Gom. The study of the marginal effects showed a higher risk for those who had a previous therapeutic act and for lung Gom. CONCLUSIONS: Within the Goms took in consideration the proposed statistical technique showed that, depending on each Gom, correctly classified about 70% of individuals on risk of delaying permanence within the Roc. The ValPeRoc project evaluates Roc activity for the first time through a replicable analysis of patient pathway times from diagnosis to the act of treatment. Specifically, the times analyzed measure the quality of the regional health care system.

Italian survey on human behaviour for inhalation exposure assessment.

In order to support risk management in identifying effective mitigation measures, exposure assessment related to environmental pollution needs to integrate monitoring of pollution levels and control data with information on population behaviour and lifestyle. With this aim, a sample population survey was carried out in a Northern Italian city, collecting data on human behavioural factors influencing inhalation exposure. Questionnaires gathering data on dwelling characteristics, and weekly individual diaries on personal behaviour, such as places frequented and daily activities, were used. Data collection was carried out in two different seasons, spring-summer and fall-winter. A sample of 270 families, randomly selected from the municipal registry, was enrolled for each seasonal observation. The study allowed quantification of variability in human behaviour revealing seasonal variation and differences due to age and gender. Daily activity patterns were described and probability distributions of inhalation rates were obtained for all observed population groups. A probabilistic exposure model was developed and the resulting exposure distributions for the two seasonal periods were compared. Results confirm that exposure estimates are strongly biased if variability in human behaviour is not taken into account.