Serious illness communication among patients with head and neck cancer.

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (31_suppl) ◽  
pp. 2-2
Author(s):  
Floyd Buen ◽  
Emily J Martin ◽  
Neil Wenger ◽  
Kirsten Buen ◽  
Anne M. Walling
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Treatment Preferences ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Goals Of Care ◽  
Serious Illness

2 Background: Head and neck cancer is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, yet little is known about the frequency and content of discussions addressing patients’ values, goals of care, and treatment preferences. Methods: Using an institutional cancer registry, we conducted a retrospective analysis of 70 decedents who underwent surgical treatment for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. We abstracted patients’ medical records using a standardized template. An independent reviewer re-abstracted 20% of the records. For abstracted data pertaining to documented values, goals of care, and/or treatment preferences our inter-rater reliability was greater than 93%. Results: The mean age at diagnosis was 66 years and 69% were male. An enduring advance directive, a completed Physician Order for Life Sustaining Treatment form, and a serious illness conversation documented in the medical record were noted in 27%, 4%, and 49% of the medical records, respectively. Half of the documented goals of care discussions were held in the inpatient setting, over 50% were held in the last month of life, and 25% were held in the last week of life. These conversations involved specialist palliative care providers (47%), hematologist/oncologists (41%), hospitalists (32%), head and neck surgeons (21%), radiation oncologists (19%), and intensivists (18%). None of these discussions involved patients’ primary care providers. Of those with a known location of death, 58% died in the hospital and 4 out of 5 of these patients died during attempted cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Conclusions: In this retrospective analysis, serious illness communication was documented in the minority of patients who died of head and neck cancer. These discussions occurred late in the trajectory of illness. The continuity relationships of teams treating head and neck cancer patients (e.g., head and neck surgeon, radiation/oncologist and hematologist/oncologist) situate these clinicians in the best position to enact serious illness conversations. These data suggest that opportunities to have these discussions upstream are often missed.

Tailored survivorship care plans for head and neck cancer patients.

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (7_suppl) ◽  
pp. 51-51
Author(s):  
Andrew L. Salner ◽  
Shrujal S. Baxi ◽  
Elizabeth Fortier ◽  
Talya Salz
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Cancer Surveillance ◽  
Survivorship Care Plans ◽  
Survivorship Care ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Care Plans ◽  
Patient Reported

51 Background: Survivorship care plans SCPs typically include generic advice for cancer surveillance, management of late effects (LEs), wellness recommendations (WRs), and cancer screening. We developed a platform called HN-STAR that uses electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) and evidence-based management guidelines to generate tailored SCPs for head and neck cancer survivors (HNCSs), a population particularly vulnerable to various LEs. We surveyed HNCSs and their primary care providers (PCPs) regarding the SCP to assess its acceptability and usefulness. Methods: HNCSs at 2 cancer hospitals used HN-STAR. Prior to a routine clinic visit, HNCSs used a validated ePRO measure (PRO-CTCAE) to report 22 physical LEs and other measures to assess wellness. Based on the visit discussion, HN-STAR generated an SCP that included a treatment summary, WRs, and LE management plans. HNCSs indicated their perceptions of the SCP and intentions to adhere to WR and LE management recommendations. PCPs reported on the SCP utility and their comfort in managing WRs and LEs. Results: 47 HNCSs completed surveys (mean 5.4 yrs. from treatment completion). Most were white (89%), male (85%), had an oropharynx tumor (58%), and received multimodality therapy (81%). 51% experienced at least 9 of the 22 LEs in the last month (mean 8.2/person). 91% of HNCSs felt the SCP was easy to follow. 98% intended to follow recommendations for LEs management and 98% reported they would refer back to the SCP. 87% said they plan to share the SCP with a PCP. 23 PCPs completed the survey. 95% were satisfied with the SCP and 95% reported they would like to have one for every cancer patient. PCPs expressed varying levels of comfort in managing specific LEs of head and neck cancer (30-80%). Conclusions: Among HNCSs, an automatically generated SCP that was tailored to their WRs and LEs was acceptable, was trusted, and provided recommendations they intended to follow. PCPs found the SCP useful, and SCPs may help improve their comfort with LE management. Patient-centered SCPs that focus on existing LEs hold promise as a means to help survivors and PCPs manage survivorship issues.

Knowledge and Preferences of Primary Care Providers in Delivering Head and Neck Cancer Survivorship Care

2017 ◽  
Vol 33 (6) ◽  
pp. 1323-1327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Callie Berkowitz ◽  
Deborah H. Allen ◽  
Jennifer Tenhover ◽  
Leah L. Zullig ◽  
John Ragsdale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Cancer Survivorship ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Primary Care Providers ◽  
Survivorship Care ◽  
Care Providers

scholarly journals Retrospective analysis of emergency hospital admission due to chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer patients

2015 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. vii136
Author(s):  
Hayato Kamata ◽  
Shinya Suzuki ◽  
Kiwako Ikegawa ◽  
Hisanaga Nomura ◽  
Tomohiro Enokida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Emergency Hospital ◽  
Emergency Hospital Admission

scholarly journals Randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating oral glutamine on radiation-induced oral mucositis and dermatitis in head and neck cancer patients

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (3) ◽  
pp. 606-614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chih-Jen Huang ◽  
Ming-Yii Huang ◽  
Pen-Tzu Fang ◽  
Frank Chen ◽  
Yu-Tsang Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Cancer Patients ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Oral Mucositis ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Phase Iii ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Double Blind ◽  
Radiation Induced

ABSTRACT Background Glutamine is the primary fuel for the gastrointestinal epithelium and maintains the mucosal structure. Oncologists frequently encounter oral mucositis, which can cause unplanned breaks in radiotherapy (RT). Objectives The aim of this study was to explore the association between oral glutamine and acute toxicities in patients with head and neck cancer undergoing RT. Methods This was a parallel, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled Phase III trial conducted in a university hospital. A central randomization center used computer-generated tables to allocate interventions to 71 patients with stages I–IV head and neck cancers. The patients, care providers, and investigators were blinded to the group assignment. Eligible patients received either oral glutamine (5 g glutamine and 10 g maltodextrin) or placebo (15 g maltodextrin) 3 times daily from 7 d before RT to 14 d after RT. The primary and secondary endpoints were radiation-induced oral mucositis and neck dermatitis, respectively. These were documented in agreement with the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3. Results The study included 64 patients (placebo n = 33; glutamine n = 31) who completed RT for the completers’ analysis. Based on multivariate analysis, glutamine had no significant effect on the severity of oral mucositis (OR: 0.3; 95% CI: 0.05, 1.67; P = 0.169). Only the change in body mass index (BMI) was significant in both multivariate completers (OR: 0.41; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.84; P = 0.015) and per-protocol analysis (OR: 0.40; 95% CI: 0.20, 0.83; P = 0.014). No difference was found in the incidence and severity of neck dermatitis between the two arms. Conclusions The decrease in BMI was strongly related to the severity of oral mucositis in the head and neck cancer patients under RT, but not to the use of glutamine. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT03015077.

Airway management techniques in head and neck cancer surgeries: a retrospective analysis

2019 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajnish Nagarkar ◽  
Gauri Kokane ◽  
Ashvin Wagh ◽  
Nayana Kulkarni ◽  
Sirshendu Roy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Airway Management ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Retrospective Analysis ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Management Techniques

Advances in Supportive Care for Late Effects of Head and Neck Cancer

2015 ◽  
Vol 33 (29) ◽  
pp. 3314-3321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Murphy ◽  
Jie Deng
Keyword(s):  
Head And Neck Cancer ◽  
Head And Neck ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Neck Cancer ◽  
Late Effects ◽  
Primary Care Physicians ◽  
Nutritional Deficiencies ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Functional Deficits

As the population of head and neck cancer survivors increases, it has become increasingly important for health care providers to understand and manage late complications of therapy. Functional deficits can be categorized as general health deficits resulting in frailty or debility, head and neck–specific functional deficits such as swallowing and speech, and musculoskeletal impairment as a result of tumor and treatment. Of critical importance is the growing data indicating that swallow therapy and physical therapy may prevent or ameliorate long-term functional deficits. Oral health complications of head and neck therapy may manifest months or years after the completion of treatment. Patients with hyposalivation are at high risk for dental caries and thus require aggressive oral hygiene regimens and routine dental surveillance. Swallowing abnormalities, xerostomia, and poor dentition may result in dietary adaptations that may cause nutritional deficiencies. Identification and management of maladaptive dietary strategies are important for long-term health. Follow-up with primary care physicians for management of comorbidities such as diabetes and hyperlipidemia may help to limit late vascular complications caused by radiation therapy. Herein, we review late effects of head and neck cancer therapy, highlighting recent advances.

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