A provider-based quality improvement intervention aimed at improving appropriateness of radiation therapy regimens for patients with advanced cancer and painful bone metastases.

Authors

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Anne M. Walling

University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA

Anne M. Walling, Phillip Beron, Neil Wenger, Patrick Kupelian, Tania Betty Kaprealian, Susan Ann McCloskey, Christopher R. King, Michael L. Steinberg

Organizations

University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, University of California Los Angeles Health Syst, Los Angeles, CA, David Geffen SOU At UCLA, Santa Monica, CA, NRG Oncology/NSABP, and UCLA, Santa Monica, CA, Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California, Los Angeles School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Research Funding

Other

Background: Although guidelines suggest that shorter course radiation treatments for patients with advanced cancer and painful bone metastases are most appropriate, treatment patterns in the United States are inconsistent with this approach. Methods: We implemented a provider-focused intervention at a university-based radiation oncology practice aimed at improving rates of shorter-course radiation treatments for patients with advanced cancer and painful bone metastases. The intervention involved key leaders of the practice participating in a RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Panel to review the latest guidelines and evidence and judge appropriateness of various treatment regimens as it pertained to their practice. These results were compared to current (7/2012-6/2013) practice patterns and presented to the faculty group. This exercise informed a template-based point of care intervention led by a clinical champion and leadership that focused on key aspects of clinical and patient-centered care including whether the bone metastases were complicated or uncomplicated, patient prognosis, extent of disease, and travel distance for the patient to the treatment site. We compared rates of lower burden treatment regimens (less than 10 fractions) for 81 pre-intervention patients with 107 metastases treated between 7/2012-6/2013 and 75 post-intervention patients with 94 metastases treated between 5/2015-1/2016. Results: Overall, painful bone metastases were treated with less than 10 fractions more often in the post-intervention period (38% v. 63%, p < 0.001). Uncomplicated bone metastases treated with conformal radiation were also more likely to be treated with less than 10 fractions in the post intervention period (19% v. 52%, p < 0.001). One quarter of metastases were treated with SBRT during both the pre and post-intervention periods. Conclusions: Leadership support, provider engagement in integrating guidelines into practice, and a note template with point of care clinical reminders can improve rates of appropriate, low-burden radiation oncology treatments for patients with advanced cancer.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2016 Palliative and Supportive Care in Oncology Symposium

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Poster Session A

Track

Evaluation and Assessment of Patient Symptoms and Quality of Life,Integration and Delivery of Palliative Care in Cancer Care

Sub Track

Quality improvement activities

Citation

J Clin Oncol 34, 2016 (suppl 26S; abstr 176)

DOI

10.1200/jco.2016.34.26_suppl.176

Abstract #

176

Poster Bd #

K2

Abstract Disclosures

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