Evaluating Hospice and Palliative Medicine Education in Pediatric Training Programs

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 603-610 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arun L. Singh ◽  
Jeffrey C. Klick ◽  
Courtney E. McCracken ◽  
Kiran B. Hebbar

Background: Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) competencies are of growing importance in training general pediatricians and pediatric sub-specialists. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) emphasized pediatric trainees should understand the “impact of chronic disease, terminal conditions and death on patients and their families.” Currently, very little is known regarding pediatric trainee education in HPM. Methods: We surveyed all 486 ACGME-accredited pediatric training program directors (PDs) - 200 in general pediatrics (GP), 57 in cardiology (CARD), 64 in critical care medicine (CCM), 69 in hematology-oncology (ONC) and 96 in neonatology (NICU). We collected training program’s demographics, PD’s attitudes and educational practices regarding HPM. Results: The complete response rate was 30% (148/486). Overall, 45% offer formal HPM curriculum and 39% offer a rotation in HPM for trainees. HPM teaching modalities commonly reported included conferences, consultations and bedside teaching. Eighty-one percent of all respondents felt that HPM curriculum would improve trainees’ ability to care for patients. While most groups felt that a HPM rotation would enhance trainees’ education [GP (96%), CARD (77%), CCM (82%) and ONC (95%)], NICU PDs were more divided (55%; p < 0.05 for all comparisons vs. NICU). Conclusion: While most programs report perceived benefit from HPM training, there remains a paucity of opportunities for pediatric trainees. Passive teaching methods are frequently utilized in HPM curricula with minimal diversity in methods utilized to teach HPM. Opportunities to further emphasize HPM in general pediatric and pediatric sub-specialty training remains.

2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 8538-8538 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle K. Nottage ◽  
Alessandra Bastian Francesconi ◽  
Kathleen Emilie Mary Houston ◽  
Charles Lin ◽  
Lizbeth M. Kenny ◽  
...  

8538 Background: Our state, Queensland, Australia, has the highest rate of cutaneous squamous cell cancer (SCC) in the world. Spread to regional lymph nodes or more distant sites occurs in 5-10%. A proportion of patients can not undergo surgical resection but complete response rates with radiotherapy alone are low. This led to the hypothesis that combined chemoradiation (CRT) may be of benefit. We decided to document the outcomes of concurrent chemoradiation by means of a prospective trial. Methods: This was a single arm, phase II study with planned sample size 30 patients. The primary endpoint was complete response rate (CRR), estimate 60%. Patients with locally/regionally advanced (non-metastatic) cutaneous SCC deemed unresectable or unsuitable for surgery by consensus of the multidisciplinary Head and Neck Cancer Clinic, with measurable disease, aged over 18, performance status 0-2, received definitive radiotherapy (XRT) (70Gy in 35#) and concurrent weekly platinum based chemotherapy (CT) (cisplatin 40mg/m2 or carboplatin AUC 2). Results: 14 patients were enrolled (Feb 2008-June 2011), median age 66 (48-84), 64% ECOG PS 0, 64% stage IV, 57% nodal disease only. Cisplatin/carboplatin was administered in 64%/36% respectively. 42% received all planned CT while 58% had 1 or 2 weeks omitted. 2 patients had dose reductions. XRT was completed as planned in 93%. The CRR was 57% (8/14) at analysis in December 2011 (median follow-up 13.5m). 2 further patients with partial response (PR) achieved CR after undergoing salvage surgery. Six (43%) patients had a PR; 4(29%) did not receive surgery and later progressed. Median overall survival was not reached, with 3 year survival 54%. The most frequent toxicities were dermatitis, mucositis, thrombocytopenia, nausea, anaemia, dysphagia. 28% had grade 3/4 toxicity, mainly cytopenias, infection, dehydration and nausea. Conclusions: This is the only prospective series of CRT for cutaneous squamous cell cancer. A high complete response rate was documented in patients with loco-regionally advanced disease and multiple co-morbidities, with acceptable toxicity, making this a reasonable alternative for patients unable to undergo surgery.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Koji Matsuo ◽  
Rachel S Mandelbaum ◽  
Marcia Ciccone ◽  
Mahdi Khoshchehreh ◽  
Heena Purswani ◽  
...  

IntroductionPrevious studies have suggested that metformin use may enhance the therapeutic effect of progestin therapy for endometrial hyperplasia or malignancy. However, it is not known how the impact of concurrent metformin may be altered by route of progestin therapy, either locally via an intrauterine device or systemically. This study examined the effectiveness of concurrent metformin use and progestin therapy for women with complex atypical hyperplasia stratified by progestin route (systemic vs local).MethodsThis single-institution retrospective study examined consecutive women with complex atypical hyperplasia who received progestin therapy from 2003 to 2018. Time-dependent analyses for complete response rate were performed comparing concurrent metformin users versus non-users in the oral progestin group and in the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device group.ResultsAcross the study cohort (n=245), there were 137 (55.9%) women who responded to progestin therapy. In the oral progestin group (n=176), the median age and body mass index were 36 years and 37.7 kg/m2, respectively. 36 (20.5%) of women on oral progestins also took metformin. After controlling for diabetes status, women taking both oral progestins and metformin had a complete response rate similar to those not taking metformin (6 month cumulative rates, 23.1% vs 27.8%, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 0.71, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 0.36 to 1.41). In the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device group (n=69), the median age and body mass index were 35 years and 39.9 kg/m2, respectively. There were 15 (21.7%) women who took metformin in addition to the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device. After controlling for diabetes status, women who had the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device and took metformin had a significantly higher complete response rate compared with those not taking metformin (6 month cumulative rates, 86.7% vs 58.9%, aHR 2.31, 95% CI 1.09 to 4.89).ConclusionIn a predominantly obese population, concurrent metformin may possibly offer treatment benefit when used with the levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine device.


2004 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 2313-2320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bent Ejlertsen ◽  
Henning T. Mouridsen ◽  
Sven T. Langkjer ◽  
Jorn Andersen ◽  
Johanna Sjöström ◽  
...  

Purpose To determine whether the addition of intravenous (IV) vinorelbine to epirubicin increased the progression-free survival in first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer. Patients and Methods A total of 387 patients were randomly assigned to receive IV epirubicin 90 mg/m2 on day 1 and vinorelbine 25 mg/m2 on days 1 and 8, or epirubicin 90 mg/m2 IV on day 1. Both regimens were given every 3 weeks for a maximum of 1 year but discontinued prematurely in the event of progressive disease or severe toxicity. In addition, epirubicin was discontinued at a cumulative dose of 1,000 mg/m2 (950 mg/m2 from June 1999). Prior anthracycline-based adjuvant chemotherapy and prior chemotherapy for metastatic breast cancer was not allowed. Reported results were all based on intent-to-treat analyses. Results Overall response rates to vinorelbine and epirubicin, and epirubicin alone, were 50% and 42%, respectively (P = .15). The complete response rate was significantly superior in the combination arm (17% v 10%; P = .048) as was median duration of progression-free survival (10.1 months v 8.2 months; P = .019). Median survival was similar in the two arms (19.1 months v 18.0 months; P = .50). Leukopenia related complications, stomatitis, and peripheral neuropathy were more common in the combination arm. The incidences of cardiotoxicity and constipation were similar in both arms. Conclusion Addition of vinorelbine to epirubicin conferred a significant advantage in terms of complete response rate and progression-free survival, but not in terms of survival.


Oncotarget ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (41) ◽  
pp. 26406-26416 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela Santonja ◽  
Alfonso Sánchez-Muñoz ◽  
Ana Lluch ◽  
Maria Rosario Chica-Parrado ◽  
Joan Albanell ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Lu-Zhen Li ◽  
Jia-Ming Wu ◽  
Ting Chen ◽  
Liang-Chen Zhao ◽  
Juan-Na Zhuang ◽  
...  

Objective. Systematically evaluate the efficacy of physical ablation combined with TKI in the treatment of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods. We performed a comprehensive search of databases including OVID, PubMed, EMBASE, the Cochrane Library, and three Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Database, and Chongqing Weipu Database). The aim was to identify randomized controlled trials (RCT) investigating physical ablation as the treatment for advanced NSCLC. We also evaluated the methodological quality of the included studies and summarized the data extracted for meta-analysis with Review Manager 5.3. Results. A total of 9 studies, including 752 patients, were evaluable. The meta-analysis results show that the complete response rate (CRR) (RR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1. 46 to 3.40, P 0.01), partial response rate (PRR) (RR: −2.25, 95% CI: 1.41 to 3.59, P 0.01), and disease control rate (DCR) (RR: −2.80, 95% CI: 1.64 to 4.80, P < 0.01) of patients with advanced NSCLC who received physical ablation combined with TKI therapy were higher than those who did not receive physical ablation therapy. The control groups from seven of the studies had a total of 606 patients with targeted therapies and chemotherapy. The complete response rate was (CRR) (RR: 2.48, 2.4895% CI: 1.55 to 2.47, P 0.01), partial response rate (PRR) (RR: −1.66, 95% CI: 1.20 to 2.31, P < 0.01), and disease control rate (DCR) (RR: −2.68, 95% CI: 1.41 to 5.06, P < 0.01) for patients with advanced NSCLC who had received physical ablation combined with targeted therapies and chemotherapy, compared to patients who had not received physical ablation therapy. This difference was statistically significant. Above all, these results showed that the clinical efficacy of physical ablation combined EGFR-TKIs therapy (regardless of whether it was combined with chemotherapy) was better than that of EGFR-TKIs therapy alone. Conclusion. Physical ablation combined with TKI treatment in patients with advanced NSCLC can improve efficacy.


Author(s):  
J.R. Oleson ◽  
T.V. Samulski ◽  
K.A. Leopold ◽  
S. Clegg ◽  
L.R. Prosnitz ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atsushi Inaba ◽  
Tomohiro Kadota ◽  
Keiichiro Nishihara ◽  
Daiki Sato ◽  
Keiichiro Nakajo ◽  
...  

Abstract   Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) is the standard treatment for cT1a esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), however its indication for the entire circumferential lesions is still controversial because of the risk of severe stricture after ESD. Therefore, several treatment options are performed based on physicians’ choice, however, each clinical course is unclear. This study aimed to clarify the long-term outcome after ESD for patients with entire circumferential cT1aN0M0 ESCC, comparing with esophagectomy or chemoradiotherapy. Methods Patients with entire circumferential cT1aN0M0 SESCC treated with ESD, chemoradiotherapy, or esophagectomy as the initial treatment between January 2010 and December 2016 in our institution were included. Patients who had a history of any malignancy at cStage II-IV within 5 years were excluded. The 5-year overall survival (OS), 5-year disease-free survival (DFS), stricture rate, refractory stricture rate (defined as requiring &gt;6 dilations), curative resection (defined as pT1a without lymphovascular invasion and negative for vertical margin in the pathological evaluation) rate of ESD, and complete response rate of chemoradiotherapy were evaluated for each treatment. Results Of the 48 eligible patients, 25/13/10 patients were performed ESD/chemoradiotherapy/esophagectomy as an initial treatment. Curative resections rate of ESD was 72%, and additional esophagectomy and chemoradiotherapy were performed in three and one patients with non-curative resection. Complete response rate of chemoradiotherapy was 100%, however, 4 patients had recurrence thereafter. No recurrences occurred after esophagectomy in all patients treated with esophagectomy. During median follow-up of 83 months, stricture and refractory stricture rate was 80/44% after ESD, 0/0% after chemoradiotherapy, and 20/10% after esophagectomy. The 5-year OS/DFS was 91/87% after ESD, 92/59% after chemoradiotherapy, and 90/90% after esophagectomy. Conclusion While some patients required additional treatments due to non-curative resection, the long-term survival after ESD for circumferential cT1aN0M0 ESCC was similar as those after chemoradiotherapy or esophagectomy. In contrast, the stricture and refractory stricture rate after ESD was higher than others. Further investigation in a large cohort is necessary to clarify the indication criteria of ESD for patients with the lesion.


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