Lost in translation? How adults living with Cystic Fibrosis understand treatment recommendations from their healthcare providers, and the impact on adherence to therapy

Use of Home-Based Connected Devices in Patients With Cystic Fibrosis for the Early Detection and Treatment of Pulmonary Exacerbations: Protocol for a Qualitative Study

BACKGROUND

Early detection of pulmonary exacerbations (PEx) in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) is important to quickly trigger treatment and reduce respiratory damage. We hypothesized that using home-based and wearable connected devices (CDs) and educating patients to react in case of abnormal variations in a set of parameters would allow patients to detect and manage their PEx early with their care team.

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative study aimed to assess the feasibility and appropriate conditions of a new PEx management process from the users' point of view by analyzing the experience of patients and of CF center teams regarding the education program, the use of CDs, and the relationship between the patient and the care team during PEx management.

METHODS

We have been conducting a multicenter pilot study involving 36 patients with CF aged ≥12 years. The intervention was divided into 3 phases. In phase 1 (3 months), patients were equipped with CDs, and their parameters were collected on 3 nonconsecutive days each week. Phase 2 involved the development of a "React to PEx" educational program aimed at providing patients with a personalized action plan. A training session to the educational program was organized for the physicians. Physicians then determined the patients' personalized alert thresholds by reviewing the data collected during phase 1 and their patients' clinical history. In phase 3 (12 months), patients were educated by the physician during a clinic visit, and their action plan for reacting in timely fashion to their PEx signs was defined. Education and action plans were revised during clinic visits. At the end of the project, the patients' experience was collected during semistructured interviews with a researcher as part of the qualitative study. The experience of CF teams was collected during focus groups using a semistructured guide once all their patients had finished the study. The interviews and focus groups were recorded and transcribed verbatim to be analyzed. Data from educational sessions were collected throughout the educational program to be put into perspective with the learnings reported by patients. Analyses are being led by 2 researchers using NVivo (QSR International).

RESULTS

The study received the favorable reception of the Committee for the Protection of Persons (CPP NORTH WEST III) on June 10, 2017 (#2017-A00723-50). Out of the 36 patients included in phase 1, 27 were educated and entered phase 3. We completed collection of all data from the patients and care providers. Qualitative analysis will provide a better understanding of users' experience on the conditions of data collection, how useful CDs are for detecting PEx, how useful the PEx action plan is for reacting quickly, what patients learned about PEx management, and the conditions for this PEx management to be sustainable in routine care.

CONCLUSIONS

This study will open new perspectives for further research into the implementation of an optimal PEx care process in the organization of care teams in order to support patient self-management.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03304028; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/results/NCT03304028.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/14552.

Characterizing medication management and the role of pharmacists in caring for people living with cystic fibrosis: A work system approach

BACKGROUND

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an autosomal recessive genetic disease requiring complex, lifelong medication regimens. Given the importance of medication in CF treatment, pharmacists are vital CF care team members in the care of people living with CF (PwCF).

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to (1) define patients' CF medication experiences and educational needs and (2) investigate the CF outpatient clinic and community pharmacist's role in addressing patient challenges.

METHODS

A work system approach informed by the Systems Engineering Initiative for Patient Safety (SEIPS) model was used to characterize knowledge and perception of CF medication regimens, educational modalities, and pharmacist interactions for PwCF. Semistructured interviews were conducted with adults living with CF at a CF center clinic. Data analyses identified relationships between the themes in the data and 4 SEIPS work system domains: tasks, tools and technology, person, and environment.

RESULTS

Thirty PwCF interviews highlighted 4 themes regarding health care experiences: (1) medication use experience, (2) medication education needs, (3) disease experience, and (4) pharmacist and pharmacy interactions. Patients reported complex medication regimens leading to challenges with medication adherence, although the benefit of treatment was recognized. Although a high level of disease-state knowledge was identified among the participants, PwCF desired to learn about CF medication benefits and adverse effects through credible sources using multiple modalities. Many reported a benefit of pharmacist involvement in their care.

CONCLUSION

Pharmacists are well-positioned to support PwCF in adherence, medication regimen management, and medication education. Opportunities exist for growth in these supportive roles of a pharmacist in both community and outpatient clinic settings.

Adherence to medication in adults with Cystic Fibrosis: An investigation using objective adherence data and the Theoretical Domains Framework

Objectives

Adherence to nebulizer treatment in adults with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is poor, and interventions are needed. This research aimed to identify the factors affecting nebulizer adherence using the Theoretical Domains Framework (TDF) and to compare these for participants with different levels of adherence.

Design

Data‐prompted interviews using the TDF.

Methods

Eighteen semi‐structured interviews were conducted with adults with CF during which objectively measured adherence data were discussed. Framework analysis was used to code the data into TDF domains, and inductive qualitative content analysis was used to code different beliefs and experiences. Aspects of the TDF that differed between participants with different adherence levels were explored.

Results

Factors influencing adherence to treatment included all 14 domains of the TDF, 10 of which appeared to vary by adherence level: Skills; Memory and decision‐making; and Behavioural regulation; Environmental context and resources; Social influences; Beliefs about consequences; Beliefs about capability; Reinforcement; Social role and identify; Intentions; Optimism; and Emotions.

Conclusions

This study is the first to use objectively measured adherence data in a data‐prompted interview using the TDF framework to systematically assess the full range of factors potentially influencing adherence. The results highlighted that interventions need to consider issues of capability, opportunity, and motivation. Interventions that challenge dysfunctional beliefs about adherence and which support the development of routines or habits and problem‐solving may be particularly useful for adults with CF.

Guideline-concordant Care Improves Overall Survival for Locally Advanced Non-Small-cell Lung Carcinoma Patients: A National Cancer Database Analysis

BACKGROUND

Current evidence-based guideline-concordant care (GCC) for locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with good performance status is concurrent chemoradiation. In this study we evaluated factors associated with lack of GCC and its effects on overall survival (OS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Unresectable stage III NSCLC patients, diagnosed from 2005 to 2013 with a Charlson-Deyo score of 0, were identified from the National Cancer Database. Primary outcomes were receipt of GCC, defined as concurrent chemoradiation (thoracic radiotherapy, starting within 2 weeks of chemotherapy, to at least 60 Gy), and OS. Multivariable logistic regression modeling identified variables associated with non-GCC. Cox proportional hazard modeling was used to examine OS.

RESULTS

Twenty-three percent of patients (n = 10,476) received GCC. Uninsured patients were more likely to receive non-GCC (odds ratio [OR], 1.54; P < .001) compared with privately insured patients. Other groups with greater odds of receiving non-GCC included: patients treated in the western, southern, or northeastern United States (ORs, 1.39, 1.37, and 1.19, respectively; all Ps < .001) compared with the Midwest; adenocarcinoma histology (OR, 1.48; P < .001) compared with squamous cell carcinoma; and women (OR, 1.08; P = .002). Those who received non-GCC had higher death rates compared with those who received GCC (hazard ratio [HR], 1.42; P < .001). The uninsured (HR, 1.53; P < .001), patients treated in the western, southern, or northeastern United States (HRs, 1.56, 1.41, and 1.34, respectively; P < .001), adenocarcinomas (HR, 1.39; P < .001), and women (HR, 1.44; P < .001) also all had lower OS for non-GCC versus GCC.

CONCLUSION

Socioeconomic factors, including lack of insurance and geography, are associated with non-GCC. Patient- and disease-specific factors, including increasing adenocarcinoma histology and sex, are also associated with non-GCC. Non-GCC diminishes OS.

Stigma-related experiences in non-communicable respiratory diseases: A systematic review

The stigma of non-communicable respiratory diseases (NCRDs), whether perceived or otherwise, can be an important element of a patient’s experience of his/her illness and a contributing factor to poor psychosocial, treatment and clinical outcomes. This systematic review examines the evidence regarding the associations between stigma-related experiences and patient outcomes, comparing findings across a range of common NCRDs. Electronic databases and manual searches were conducted to identify original quantitative research published to December 2015. Articles focussing on adult patient samples diagnosed with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer or mesothelioma, and included a measurement of stigma-related experience (i.e. perceived stigma, shame, blame or guilt), were eligible for inclusion. Included articles were described for study characteristics, outcome scores, correlates between stigma-related experiences and patient outcomes and methodological rigor. Twenty-five articles were eligible for this review, with most (n = 20) related to lung cancer. No articles for cystic fibrosis were identified. Twenty unique scales were used, with low to moderate stigma-related experiences reported overall. The stigma-related experiences significantly correlated with all six patient-related domains explored (psychosocial, quality of life, behavioral, physical, treatment and work), which were investigated more widely in COPD and lung cancer samples. No studies adequately met all criteria for methodological rigor. The inter-connectedness of stigma-related experiences to other aspects of patient experiences highlight that an integrated approach is needed to address this important issue. Future studies should adopt more rigorous methodology, including streamlining measures, to provide robust evidence.