abstract: If patient-reported outcome measures are considered key health-care quality indicators, who is excluded from participation? - Health Expectations

If patient-reported outcome measures are considered key health-care quality indicators, who is excluded from participation?  - Health Expectations 
 

Abstract

Patient-reported outcome measures have received increasing attention with regard to ensuring quality improvement across the health service. However, there is a risk that people with disabilities and low literacy are systematically excluded from the development of these measures as well as their application in clinical practice. This editorial highlights some of these risks and the potential consequences of exclusion for these groups.

Quality control in ovarian cancer surgery

If the profession does not institute adequate internal regulation of the quality of ovarian cancer surgery, regulation is likely to be imposed by government.

Quality of pathology reports for advanced ovarian cancer: Are we missing essential information? : : An audit of 479 pathology reports from the EORTC-GCG 55971/NCIC-CTG OV13 neoadjuvant trial

Conclusion

This audit of ovarian cancer pathology reports reveals that in a substantial number of reports basic pathologic data are missing, with possible adverse consequences for the quality of cancer care. Specialisation by pathologists and the use of standardised synoptic reports can lead to improved quality of reporting. Further research is needed to better define pre- and post-operative diagnostic criteria for ovarian cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

10-year analysis of the ATAC trial: wrong conclusion? : The Lancet Oncology

"The 10-year analysis of the Arimidex, Tamoxifen, Alone or in Combination (ATAC) trial1 continues to show a difference in its primary endpoint of disease-free survival, which favours anastrozole as adjuvant treatment for postmenopausal women with hormone-responsive breast cancer. Ultimately, however, clinical trials have two aims: either to show improvement in survival, or in its quality.
Anastrozole has failed to meet these criteria when compared with tamoxifen."

full free access: Quality in Cancer Diagnosis (table 1 gyn)

Table 1. Diagnostic Steps for Gynecologic and Nongynecologic Specimens

Quality of pathology reports for advanced ovarian cancer: Are we missing essential information? An audit of 479 pathology reports from the EORTC-GCG 5

Quality of pathology reports for advanced ovarian cancer: Are we missing essential information? An audit of 479 pathology reports from the EORTC-GCG 55971/NCIC-CTG OV13 neoadjuvant trial

 

CONCLUSION: This audit of ovarian cancer pathology reports reveals that in a substantial number of reports basic pathologic data are missing, with possible adverse consequences for the quality of cancer care. Specialisation by pathologists and the use of standardised synoptic reports can lead to improved quality of reporting. Further research is needed to better define pre- and post-operative diagnostic criteria for ovarian cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Gynecologic Oncology Group quality assurance audits: analysis and initiatives for improvement — Clin Trials

Editorial: The Elusive Goal of Maintaining Population (Breast) Cancer Screening: It Is Time for a New Paradigm JNCI

"The promise of breast cancer screening has fallen short of its goals because of its imprecision, failure to screen those at highest risk, lack of compliance with screening continuance over recommended periods of time, and gaps in access to or quality of diagnostic follow-up and treatment (20). It is no longer enough to simply conduct more interventions to understand which work best in motivating individuals to undergo repeat cancer screening. New paradigms, guided by evidence from modeling, novel trials, and new scientific discovery, will be needed to realize the promise of eliminating the burden of cancer."

End of life 'quality' index | Open Medicine Blog

Toward Improving the Quality of Cancer Care: Addressing the Interfaces of Primary and Oncology-Related Subspecialty Care

Note: excerpt with numerous related references/$$$ article

full access: Quality in Cancer Diagnosis CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians

Cochrane Collaboration review: Antigen-specific active immunotherapy for ovarian cancer

"AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that despite promising immunological responses no clinically effective antigen-specific active immunotherapy is yet available for ovarian cancer. Furthermore, the adoption of guidelines to ensure uniformity in trial conduct, response definitions and trial reporting is recommended to improve quality and comparability of immunotherapy trials."