University of Florida, Gainesville, FL
Brittany Kayla Rogers , Andrew Kolarich , Merry Jennifer Markham
Background: ASCO’s QOPI sets standards for excellence in oncologic care. One standard is screening appropriate female patients for pregnancy prior to chemotherapy. No guidelines exist regarding screening protocols or timing. Prior data collection at our institution from 2012-2014 revealed that 35% of women of childbearing potential were screened prior to chemo, with medical oncology performing only 7% of screening. Less than half (48%) of those tests were ordered within 14 days prior to treatment start. Methods: A quality improvement (QI) intervention was implemented at UF Health outpatient infusion center on 8/15/16 based on the above data. A checkbox was added to the pre-chemo checklist used by infusion nurses. For eligible patients (women ages 18-55 without prior tubal ligation or hysterectomy), a point of care pregnancy test, included in standing orders, was recommended. We reviewed data for women who received outpatient chemo during 9/16-11/16 to determine rates of pregnancy screening (PS) after intervention. Results: 49 women, ages 18-55, of childbearing potential were identified and presented for 174 chemo cycles from 9/1/16 to 11/30/16. Of these, 15 (30.6%) received PS before chemo. Fifty pregnancy tests were ordered during this period; all were negative. Of the 50 tests, 42 (84%) were ordered by medical oncology, 3 (6%) by a surgical oncology, 3 (6%) by radiation oncology, and 1 (2%) by emergency medicine. Of the PS tests ordered by medical oncology, 64.2% were within 14 days of chemotherapy. Conclusions: In three months of QI intervention, PS prior to chemo increased from 7% to 30.6%. Screening was 13% in women older than 45, but higher in women age 25-34 (60%) and 35-44 (67%). Although the screening rate improved, it remains below our goal of 80%. Possible explanations for low rates are inclusion of postmenopausal women and those older than 50. Excluding these patients could reduce screening burden while identifying appropriate patients.
Age Range | Pre-Intervention | Post-Intervention | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Total Patients | Number of Pregnancy Tests | Percent Tested | Total Patients | Number of Pregnancy Tests | Percent Tested | |
18-24 | 15 | 8 | 53% | 0 | 0 | - - - - - |
25-34 | 39 | 22 | 56% | 5 | 3 | 60% |
35-44 | 68 | 31 | 46% | 12 | 8 | 67% |
45-55 | 175 | 42 | 24% | 32 | 4 | 13% |
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Abstract Disclosures
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