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Bugge C, Kaasa S, Sæther EM, Melberg HO, Sonbo Kristiansen I. What are determinants of utilisation of pharmaceutical anticancer treatment during the last year of life in Norway? A retrospective registry study. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e050564. [PMID: 34580099 PMCID: PMC8477316 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-050564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to investigate the use of, and predictors for, pharmaceutical anticancer treatment (PACT) towards the end of a patient's life in a country with a public healthcare system. DESIGN Retrospective registry study. SETTING Secondary care in Norway. PARTICIPANTS All Norwegian patients with cancer (International Classification of Diseases tenth revision (ICD-10) codes C00-99, D00-09, D37-48) in contact with a somatic hospital in Norway between 2009 and 2017 (N=420 655). Analyses were performed on a subsample of decedents with follow-back time of more than 1 year (2013-2017, N=52 496). INTERVENTIONS N/A. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of patients receiving PACT during the last year and month of life. We calculated CIs with block bootstrapping, while predictors of PACT were estimated with logistic regression. RESULTS 24.0% (95% CI 23.4% to 24.6%) of the patients received PACT during the last year of life and 3.2% (95% CI 3.0% to 3.5%) during their final month. The proportion during the last month was highest for multiple myeloma (12.7%) and breast cancer (6.5%) and lowest for urinary tract (1.1%) and prostate and kidney cancer (1.4%). Patients living in northern (OR 0.80, 95% CI 0.68 to 0.94) and western (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.75 to 0.96) Norway had lower odds of PACT during the last month, while patients with myeloma (OR 3.0, 95% CI 2.5 to 3.7) and breast (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.6) had higher odds. Kidney cancer (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.2. to 0.4), urinary tract (OR 0.38, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.5) and prostate cancer (OR 0.4, 95% CI 0.3 to 0.5) were associated with lower probability of receiving PACT within the last month. CONCLUSIONS The proportion of patients receiving PACT in Norway is lower than in several other industrialised countries. Age, type of cancer and area of living are significant determinants of variation in PACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoffer Bugge
- Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo Economics AS, Oslo, Norway
| | - Stein Kaasa
- Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Hans Olav Melberg
- Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ivar Sonbo Kristiansen
- Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Oslo Economics AS, Oslo, Norway
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Berner AM, Hughes DJ, Tharmalingam H, Baker T, Heyworth B, Banerjee S, Saunders D. An evaluation of self-perceived knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of UK oncologists about LGBTQ+ patients with cancer. ESMO Open 2021; 5:e000906. [PMID: 33208489 PMCID: PMC7677327 DOI: 10.1136/esmoopen-2020-000906] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 09/28/2020] [Accepted: 10/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Over one million people in the UK identify as LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning). Research has shown that this population experience differing cancer risk factors compared with non-LGBTQ+ patients and persistent inequalities in cancer care. Literature concerning the knowledge of oncologists of this group’s healthcare needs is limited; our study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitudes and behaviours of UK oncologists about LGBTQ+ patients. Methods A 53-question survey was delivered via a secure online platform. Questions covered respondent demographics, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours with the majority of responses on a Likert scale. Oncologists were recruited via email from professional bodies and social media promotion. Informed consent was sought and responses fully anonymised. Multifactorial ordinal logistic regression and Fisher’s exact test were used to assess for interactions between demographics and responses with Holm-Bonferroni multiple testing correction. Results 258 fully completed responses were received. Respondents had a median age of 43 years (range 28–69); 65% consultants and 35% registrars; 42% medical, and 54% clinical, oncologists. 84% felt comfortable treating LGBTQ+ patients but only 8% agreed that they were confident in their knowledge of specific LGBTQ+ patient healthcare needs. There were low rates of routine enquiry about sexual orientation (5%), gender identity (3%) and preferred pronouns (2%). 68% of oncologists felt LGBTQ+ healthcare needs should be a mandatory component of postgraduate training. Conclusions This survey showed that UK oncologists feel comfortable treating LGBTQ+ patients but may fail to identify these patients in their clinic, making it more difficult to meet LGBTQ+ healthcare needs. There is self-awareness of deficits in knowledge of LGBTQ+ healthcare and a willingness to address this through postgraduate training. Educational resources collated and developed in accordance with this study would potentially improve the confidence of oncologists in treating LGBTQ+ patients and the cancer care these patients receive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison May Berner
- Genomics and Computational Biology, Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK; Gender Identity Clinic, Tavistock and Portman NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
| | | | - Hannah Tharmalingam
- Royal College of Radiologists, London, London, UK; Department of Oncology, Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, Middlesex, UK
| | - Tom Baker
- Royal College of Physicians, London, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Heyworth
- Department of Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Susana Banerjee
- Department of Oncology, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, London, UK
| | - Daniel Saunders
- Department of Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, Manchester, UK
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Wagner AD, Oertelt-Prigione S, Adjei A, Buclin T, Cristina V, Csajka C, Coukos G, Dafni U, Dotto GP, Ducreux M, Fellay J, Haanen J, Hocquelet A, Klinge I, Lemmens V, Letsch A, Mauer M, Moehler M, Peters S, Özdemir BC. Gender medicine and oncology: report and consensus of an ESMO workshop. Ann Oncol 2019; 30:1914-1924. [PMID: 31613312 DOI: 10.1093/annonc/mdz414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The importance of sex and gender as modulators of disease biology and treatment outcomes is well known in other disciplines of medicine, such as cardiology, but remains an undervalued issue in oncology. Considering the increasing evidence for their relevance, European Society for Medical Oncology decided to address this topic and organized a multidisciplinary workshop in Lausanne, Switzerland, on 30 November and 1 December 2018. DESIGN Twenty invited faculty members and 40 selected physicians/scientists participated. Relevant content was presented by faculty members on the basis of a literature review conducted by each speaker. Following a moderated consensus session, the final consensus statements are reported here. RESULTS Clinically relevant sex differences include tumour biology, immune system activity, body composition and drug disposition and effects. The main differences between male and female cells are sex chromosomes and the level of sexual hormones they are exposed to. They influence both local and systemic determinants of carcinogenesis. Their effect on carcinogenesis in non-reproductive organs is largely unknown. Recent evidence also suggests differences in tumour biology and molecular markers. Regarding body composition, the difference in metabolically active, fat-free body mass is one of the most prominent: in a man and a woman of equal weight and height, it accounts for 80% of the man's and 65% of the woman's body mass, and is not taken into account in body-surface area based dosing of chemotherapy. CONCLUSION Sex differences in cancer biology and treatment deserve more attention and systematic investigation. Interventional clinical trials evaluating sex-specific dosing regimens are necessary to improve the balance between efficacy and toxicity for drugs with significant pharmacokinetic differences. Especially in diseases or disease subgroups with significant differences in epidemiology or outcomes, men and women with non-sex-related cancers should be considered as biologically distinct groups of patients, for whom specific treatment approaches merit consideration.
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Affiliation(s)
- A D Wagner
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - S Oertelt-Prigione
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud Institute of Health Sciences (RIHS), Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - A Adjei
- Department of Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, USA
| | - T Buclin
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University, Lausanne
| | - V Cristina
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - C Csajka
- Service of Clinical Pharmacology, Lausanne University, Lausanne; Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Western Switzerland, University of Geneva, University of Lausanne, Lausanne
| | - G Coukos
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Ludwig Lausanne Branch and Swiss Cancer Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - U Dafni
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - G-P Dotto
- Department of Biochemistry, Lausanne University, Lausanne, Switzerland; Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA; International Cancer Prevention Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - M Ducreux
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Unit, Gustave Roussy, Paris Saclay University, Villejuif, France
| | - J Fellay
- Precision Medicine Unit, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne; EPFL School of Life Sciences, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - J Haanen
- Division of Medical Oncology and Immunology, Department of Oncology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Hocquelet
- Department of Radiodiagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - I Klinge
- Dutch Society for Gender and Health
| | - V Lemmens
- Department of Research and Development, Comprehensive Cancer Organisation the Netherlands, Utrecht; Department of Public Health, Erasmus Medical Centre University, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Letsch
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Charity CBF, Berlin; Charity Comprehensive Cancer Center CCCC, Berlin; Palliative Care Unit, Campus Benjamin Franklin, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - M Moehler
- Department of Internal Medicine 1/Gastrointestinal Oncology, Johannes-Gutenberg-University Clinic, Mainz, Germany
| | - S Peters
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - B C Özdemir
- Department of Oncology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; International Cancer Prevention Institute, Epalinges, Switzerland
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