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Arumugam K, Nandagopal H, Joseph J, Balaji JN, Surapaneni KM. EMBRACE (Empowering Medical students' skills in BReaking bAd news with Compassion and Empathy) module improves the skills of undergraduate medical students in effectively breaking the bad news: a case-control study. Adv Physiol Educ 2024; 48:356-365. [PMID: 38482563 DOI: 10.1152/advan.00224.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Effective communication skills are pivotal in health care, particularly when conveying distressing information to patients and their families. However, medical education still lacks the adoption of a universal model that can be incorporated into the curricula to train and assess students in effectively communicating with patients. This study aims to assess the impact of training undergraduate medical students to deliver bad news effectively using the Empowering Medical students' skills in BReaking bAd news with Compassion and Empathy (EMBRACE) module. This randomized case-control study involved medical students from the first, second, and third professional years (study group, n = 75; control group, n = 75). For the study group, the EMBRACE modules were distributed. Then, a 1-hour training session on effectively delivering bad news was followed by a multiple-choice question test and objective structured clinical examination with response, interpretation, and communication skills stations. Participants' feedback was obtained on a five-point Likert scale. There was a highly significant improvement in knowledge and skills among the study group compared to controls with a P value less than 0.0001. Of the participants, 98.76% perceived that the training equipped them with practical skills, and 98.77% felt that the facilitator had demonstrated the steps of delivering bad news clearly and effectively. Only 4.44% of participants were confident in effectively interacting with patients before the session, and an overwhelming 81.11% gained confidence in their communication skills after the training. With demonstrated significant improvement in knowledge and skills, this study supports the adoption of EMBRACE modules in undergraduate medical education, ultimately improving patient experiences, doctor-patient relationships, and health outcomes.NEW & NOTEWORTHY The Empowering Medical students' skills in BReaking bAd news with Compassion and Empathy (EMBRACE) module is noteworthy for its holistic approach to training medical students in the delicate art of delivering distressing news to patients. It not only incorporates the evidence-based setting, perception, invitation, knowledge, emotions, and strategy (SPIKES) method but also distinguishes itself by providing real-life conversation examples and self-assessment cases, which make the training highly relatable and practical for students to actively engage in their learning and personal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaviya Arumugam
- First Professional MBBS, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Harshavardhini Nandagopal
- First Professional MBBS, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Joseline Joseph
- First Professional MBBS, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Jyotsna Needamangalam Balaji
- Third Professional MBBS: Part 1, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Krishna Mohan Surapaneni
- Department of Biochemistry, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
- Department of Medical Education, Panimalar Medical College Hospital & Research Institute, Varadharajapuram, Poonamallee, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
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Puga O, Retamales J, Saez N, Urzúa M, Saavedra M, Pérez MV, Acuña D, García K. The role of pre-treatment paraaortic surgical staging for cervical cancer in the EMBRACE criteria. Ecancermedicalscience 2022; 16:1463. [PMID: 36819821 PMCID: PMC9934876 DOI: 10.3332/ecancer.2022.1463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The State-of-the-Art Treatment for Locally Advanced Cervical Cancer (LACC) is Definite Radio-Chemotherapy based on the Image-guided intensity modulated External beam radiochemotherapy and MRI-based adaptive BRAchytherapy (EMBRACE) trial, according to the FIGO staging. This staging is based on clinical examination and imaging studies; however, there are limitations of imaging techniques which may result in adverse events or death due to insufficient or overtreatment. The aim of the study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of surgical staging in LACC prior to radiotherapy (RT) to personalise target volumes for radiotherapy. Methods From 2008 to 2018, 138 patients with FIGO 2018 stages IB3-IIIC2 cervical cancer underwent a pretherapeutic laparoscopic staging procedure. The pathological diagnosis was compared with the results of preoperative CT scan. Patients were treated with chemoradiotherapy tailored according to the staging results. Results The mean patient age was 43 years, the mean body mass index was 27 kg/m2; most lesions were squamous cervical cancer (92%). Staging CT scan had a 77% concordance with the histological findings. Sensitivity was 29%, specificity 85%, positive predictive value 21% and negative predictive value 89%. Surgical staging led to change of stage in 24% of cases. Para -aortic dissection led to change the initially planned radiotherapy fields in 47% of the cases. Major complications included involuntary section of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) without clinical repercussion, an infected retroperitoneal haematoma and a symptomatic lymphocele requiring laparoscopic drainage. Conclusion Laparoscopic staging before primary chemoradiation in patients with LACC was feasible, safe and reproducible, allowing reduction of the radiotherapy treatment volumes of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar Puga
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 40 - 8330023, Santiago, Chile
| | - Javier Retamales
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile,Chilean Cooperative Group for Oncologic Research, Av Jose Manuel Infante 125 Of. 11 - 7500650, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nicolás Saez
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 40 - 8330023, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel Urzúa
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 40 - 8330023, Santiago, Chile
| | - Miguel Saavedra
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 40 - 8330023, Santiago, Chile
| | - María Victoria Pérez
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 40 - 8330023, Santiago, Chile
| | - Dania Acuña
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile
| | - Karen García
- Unidad Oncología Ginecológica, Complejo Asistencial Sótero del Río, Av Concha y Toro 3459 - 8207257, Santiago, Chile,Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Lira 40 - 8330023, Santiago, Chile
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Peters M, de Leeuw AAC, Nomden CN, Tanderup K, Kirchheiner K, Lindegaard JC, Kirisits C, Haie-Meder C, Sturdza A, Fokdal L, Mahantshetty U, Hoskin P, Segedin B, Bruheim K, Rai B, Huang F, Cooper R, van der Steen-Banasik E, van Limbergen E, Pieters BR, Tan LT, van Rossum PSN, Nesvacil N, Nout R, Schmid MP, Pötter R, Jürgenliemk-Schulz IM. Risk factors for nodal failure after radiochemotherapy and image guided brachytherapy in locally advanced cervical cancer: An EMBRACE analysis. Radiother Oncol 2021; 163:150-158. [PMID: 34480958 DOI: 10.1016/j.radonc.2021.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess risk factors for nodal failure (NF) after definitive (chemo)radiotherapy and image-guided brachytherapy for locally advanced cervical cancer (LACC) for patients treated in the EMBRACE I study. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data for pelvic NF and para-aortic (PAO) NF (NFPAO) were analysed. After multiple imputation, univariable and multivariable Cox-regression was performed for clinical and treatment-related variables. For patients with affected pelvic nodes but no PAO nodes at diagnosis, additional analyses were performed for two subgroups: 1. 'small pelvis' nodes in internal and external iliac, obturator, parametrial, presacral and/or common iliac (CI) region and 2. any CI nodes (subgroup of 1). RESULTS 1338 patients with 152 NF and 104 NFPAO events were analysed with a median follow-up of 34.2 months (IQR 16.4-52.7). For the entire group, larger tumour width, nodal risk groups (in particular any CI nodes without PAO nodes), local failure, and lower Hb-nadir increased the risk of NF. Elective PAO-irradiation was independently associated with a decreased risk of NFPAO (HR 0.53, 95%-CI 0.28-1.00, p = 0.05). For subgroup 1, having 'any CI nodes without PAO nodes' and local failure significantly increased NF risk. Additionally, elective PAO-irradiation was associated with less risk of NFPAO (HR 0.38, 95%-CI 0.17-0.86, p = 0.02). For subgroup 2 only local failure was associated with higher risk of NF. CONCLUSION In this patient cohort, nodal disease and tumour width at diagnosis, as well as local failure, are risk factors for NF after definitive treatment. Having either 'any PAO nodes' (with or without pelvic nodes) or 'any CI nodes' (without PAO nodes) are stronger risk factors than involvement of nodes in the small pelvis alone. Elective PAO-irradiation was associated with significantly less NFPAO, particularly in patients with nodal disease in the 'small pelvis' and/or CI region at time of diagnosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Max Peters
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Radiation Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Astrid A C de Leeuw
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Radiation Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Christel N Nomden
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Radiation Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Kari Tanderup
- Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Oncology, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Kathrin Kirchheiner
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Christian Kirisits
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Alina Sturdza
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria
| | - Lars Fokdal
- Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Oncology, Aarhus, Denmark
| | | | - Peter Hoskin
- Mount Vernon Cancer Centre, Northwood, United Kingdom
| | - Barbara Segedin
- Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, Department of Radiotherapy, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Kjersti Bruheim
- The Norwegian Radium Hospital-Oslo University Hospital, Department of Oncology, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bhavana Rai
- Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Department of Radiotherapy and Oncology, Chandigarh, India
| | - Fleur Huang
- Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute and University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Rachel Cooper
- St James's University Hospital, Leeds Cancer Centre, Leeds, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Bradley R Pieters
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Li Tee Tan
- Department of Oncology, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, United Kingdom
| | - Peter S N van Rossum
- University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Radiation Oncology, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Nicole Nesvacil
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria
| | - Remi Nout
- Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Radiation Oncology, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Maximilian P Schmid
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Pötter
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, General Hospital of Vienna, Austria
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Belliveau JG, Thind K, Banerjee R, Quirk S, Doll C, Phan T, Meyer T, Roumeliotis M. The impact of inter-fraction changes for perineal template-based interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy implants. J Contemp Brachytherapy 2019; 11:122-7. [PMID: 31139220 DOI: 10.5114/jcb.2019.84420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Perineal template-based interstitial gynecologic brachytherapy (ISBT) treatments are evaluated to determine whether adaptive inter-fraction re-planning is beneficial and necessary to meet the treatment aims of the American Brachytherapy Society (ABS) consensus guidelines for interstitial brachytherapy. Adherence to the EMBRACE II protocol is also assessed. Material and methods Ten patients receiving radical intent treatment for locally advanced or recurrent gynecologic malignancies underwent a three-fraction ISBT treatment with an ABS-recommended prescription regimen of 21 to 24 Gy. Clinical treatment plans were created according to a computed tomography (CT) acquired immediately post-implant. The first fraction was delivered on the same day as the implant (Day 1). The remaining two fractions were delivered on the next day (Day 2), at least six hours apart. Prior to treating on Day 2, a verification CT was acquired, permitting assessment of over-night changes. The Day 2 CT was used to evaluate deviations in 2-Gy-per-fraction equivalent dose (EQD2) from the clinically intended dosimetry for clinical target volume (CTV), bladder, rectum, and sigmoid. Results For all patients, the median (range) difference between the intended and the delivered dosimetry for the CTV D90% was 1.4 Gy10 (0.3-4.4 Gy10). For all normal tissues, the median (range) difference from the intended normal tissue dose was 2.6 Gy3 (0.1-15.5 Gy3). In all cases, the deviation from clinically intended dosimetry did not lead to a violation of recommended normal tissue dose guidelines. For two of 10 patients with large normal tissue differences (> 10 Gy3 from the intended dose), inter-fraction adaptive planning did improve the plan quality, but was not strictly required to meet the normal tissue dose planning aims. Conclusions The implementation of perineal template-based ISBT treatment without inter-fraction adaptive planning can be delivered to comply with the ABS normal tissue dose guidelines and EMBRACE II limits for prescribed dose.
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Abstract
Eribulin is a structurally simplified, synthetic macrocyclic ketone analog of halichondrin B, which is a natural, polyether macrolide derived from marine sponges. Eribulin exerts its cytotoxicity by its unique microtubule dynamics inhibitory action. Eribulin was approved in 2010 by the US FDA as a third-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer patients previously treated with an anthracycline and a taxane. In 2016, it was approved for treatment of metastatic liposarcoma for patients who have progressed with anthracycline treatment. In this article, we review the pharmacokinetics, mechanism of action of eribulin with focus on preclinical and clinical data in sarcoma and also the role of miRNAs in soft tissue sarcomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahesh Seetharam
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
| | - Kantha R Kolla
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Phoenix, AZ 85054, USA
| | - Sant P Chawla
- Sarcoma Oncology Center, Santa Monica, CA 90403, USA
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Abstract
Halichondrin B is a complex, natural, polyether macrolide derived from marine sponges. Eribulin is a structurally-simplified, synthetic, macrocyclic ketone analogue of Halichondrin B. Eribulin was approved by United States Food and Drug Administration in 2010 as a third-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer patients who have previously been treated with an anthracycline and a taxane. It has a unique microtubule dynamics inhibitory action. Phase III studies have either been completed or are currently ongoing in breast cancer, soft tissue sarcoma, and non-small cell lung cancer. Phase I and II studies in multiple cancers and various combinations are currently ongoing. This article reviews the available information on eribulin with respect to its clinical pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, mechanism of action, metabolism, preclinical studies, and with special focus on clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Umang Swami
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, 200 Hawkins Dr, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA.
| | - Umang Shah
- Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1695 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
| | - Sanjay Goel
- Department of Medical Oncology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1695 Eastchester Road, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
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