Cancer Care for the Whole Patient

Cancer Care for the Whole Patient PDF Author: Institute of Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309134161
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 455

Book Description
Cancer care today often provides state-of-the-science biomedical treatment, but fails to address the psychological and social (psychosocial) problems associated with the illness. This failure can compromise the effectiveness of health care and thereby adversely affect the health of cancer patients. Psychological and social problems created or exacerbated by cancer-including depression and other emotional problems; lack of information or skills needed to manage the illness; lack of transportation or other resources; and disruptions in work, school, and family life-cause additional suffering, weaken adherence to prescribed treatments, and threaten patients' return to health. Today, it is not possible to deliver high-quality cancer care without using existing approaches, tools, and resources to address patients' psychosocial health needs. All patients with cancer and their families should expect and receive cancer care that ensures the provision of appropriate psychosocial health services. Cancer Care for the Whole Patient recommends actions that oncology providers, health policy makers, educators, health insurers, health planners, researchers and research sponsors, and consumer advocates should undertake to ensure that this standard is met.

Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials

Quality of Life and Pharmacoeconomics in Clinical Trials PDF Author: Bert Spilker
Publisher: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
ISBN: 9780781703321
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 1259

Book Description
The Second Edition of this groundbreaking work refines the art and science of quality of life assessment and pharmacoeconomics and redefines the role of these evaluation parameters in clinical trials and health care decision-making. Dr. Spilker has assembled more than 200 experts from diverse clinical, research, and social science disciplines to provide a comprehensive reference on the methodology, interpretation, and use of quality of life and pharmacoeconomic studies. Expanded to four times its predecessor's size and scope, the Second Edition features: all-new sections on pharmacoeconomics and crucial health policy issues such as outcomes research a new, extensive section on cross-cultural and cross-national issues in quality of life assessment detailed information on specific tests and measures of quality of life comprehensive guidelines on choosing and administering tests and analyzing, interpreting, and presenting data many chapters on new topics such as phenomenology, assessment of spiritual status, and alternative/complementary medical treatments.

Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care

Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care PDF Author: Committee on Improving the Quality of Cancer Care: Addressing the Challenges of an Aging Population
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 9780309286602
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
In the United States, approximately 14 million people have had cancer and more than 1.6 million new cases are diagnosed each year. However, more than a decade after the Institute of Medicine (IOM) first studied the quality of cancer care, the barriers to achieving excellent care for all cancer patients remain daunting. Care often is not patient-centered, many patients do not receive palliative care to manage their symptoms and side effects from treatment, and decisions about care often are not based on the latest scientific evidence. The cost of cancer care also is rising faster than many sectors of medicine--having increased to $125 billion in 2010 from $72 billion in 2004--and is projected to reach $173 billion by 2020. Rising costs are making cancer care less affordable for patients and their families and are creating disparities in patients' access to high-quality cancer care. There also are growing shortages of health professionals skilled in providing cancer care, and the number of adults age 65 and older--the group most susceptible to cancer--is expected to double by 2030, contributing to a 45 percent increase in the number of people developing cancer. The current care delivery system is poorly prepared to address the care needs of this population, which are complex due to altered physiology, functional and cognitive impairment, multiple coexisting diseases, increased side effects from treatment, and greater need for social support. Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care: Charting a New Course for a System in Crisis presents a conceptual framework for improving the quality of cancer care. This study proposes improvements to six interconnected components of care: (1) engaged patients; (2) an adequately staffed, trained, and coordinated workforce; (3) evidence-based care; (4) learning health care information technology (IT); (5) translation of evidence into clinical practice, quality measurement and performance improvement; and (6) accessible and affordable care. This report recommends changes across the board in these areas to improve the quality of care. Delivering High-Quality Cancer Care: Charting a New Course for a System in Crisis provides information for cancer care teams, patients and their families, researchers, quality metrics developers, and payers, as well as HHS, other federal agencies, and industry to reevaluate their current roles and responsibilities in cancer care and work together to develop a higher quality care delivery system. By working toward this shared goal, the cancer care community can improve the quality of life and outcomes for people facing a cancer diagnosis.

Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors

Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients and Survivors PDF Author: Marco Invernizzi
Publisher: Frontiers Media SA
ISBN: 2889663507
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 137

Book Description


Outcomes Assessment in Cancer

Outcomes Assessment in Cancer PDF Author: Joseph Lipscomb
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
ISBN: 9781107403161
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 0

Book Description
The U.S. National Cancer Institute established the Cancer Outcomes Measurement Working Group in 2001 to evaluate measurements of the important and diverse impacts of cancer on individuals and populations. The findings and recommendations of the working group's 35 internationally recognized members provide alternative approaches for comprehensively measuring the burden of cancer and the effectiveness of preventive and therapeutic interventions.

Improving Palliative Care for Cancer

Improving Palliative Care for Cancer PDF Author: National Research Council
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309074029
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 344

Book Description
In our society's aggressive pursuit of cures for cancer, we have neglected symptom control and comfort care. Less than one percent of the National Cancer Institute's budget is spent on any aspect of palliative care research or education, despite the half million people who die of cancer each year and the larger number living with cancer and its symptoms. Improving Palliative Care for Cancer examines the barriersâ€"scientific, policy, and socialâ€"that keep those in need from getting good palliative care. It goes on to recommend public- and private-sector actions that would lead to the development of more effective palliative interventions; better information about currently used interventions; and greater knowledge about, and access to, palliative care for all those with cancer who would benefit from it.

Improving Diagnosis in Health Care

Improving Diagnosis in Health Care PDF Author: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
Publisher: National Academies Press
ISBN: 0309377722
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 473

Book Description
Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

Effect of Cancer On Quality of Life

Effect of Cancer On Quality of Life PDF Author: David Osoba
Publisher: CRC Press
ISBN: 1000142035
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 374

Book Description
This book is comprised of extensive reviews and instructional chapters that discuss the quality of life in several aspects of cancer. The first six chapters deal with conceptual issues relating to measuring quality of life in adult and pediatric populations with cancer. The next five chapters provide practical information on how to select quality-of-life measures, the statistical analysis of trials, economic evaluations to be considered, and some possible abuses of quality-of-life measures. Five chapters review the results of studies using selected quality-of-life measures and provide recent information on their performance. These are followed by three chapters dealing with specific issues relating to nausea and vomiting associated with cancer therapy. Three chapters are devoted to the problems of assessing and controlling pain in patients who have cancer. There are also two chapters that deal with the quality of life in palliative care. Effect of Cancer on Quality of Life is intended for all who have an interest in measuring the quality of life in patients with cancer. This includes investigators who are just entering the field and can benefit from instructions on how to conduct quality-of-life research, as well as those who are experienced in conducting this kind of research.

Regional Strategy for Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific

Regional Strategy for Traditional Medicine in the Western Pacific PDF Author: World Health Organization. Regional Office for the Western Pacific
Publisher: World Health Organization
ISBN:
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 52

Book Description
This strategy was prepared to guide national governments in the Western Pacific Region, WHO and other partners in the efforts to ensure the proper use of traditional medicine and its contribution to maintaining health and fighting diseases in the Region. It has identified strategic directions and actions which provide general principles and guidance for countries and areas to use in responding to the challenges which they may face with consideration of the unique situation in each country and area.

The Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Comprehensive Cancer Center PDF Author: Mahmoud Aljurf
Publisher: Springer Nature
ISBN: 3030820521
Category : Medical
Languages : en
Pages : 192

Book Description
This open access book provides a valuable resource for hospitals, institutions, and health authorities worldwide in their plans to set up and develop comprehensive cancer care centers. The development and implementation of a comprehensive cancer program allows for a systematic approach to evidence-based strategies of prevention, early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and palliation. Comprehensive cancer programs also provide a nexus for the running of clinical trials and implementation of novel cancer therapies with the overall aim of optimizing comprehensive and holistic care of cancer patients and providing them with the best opportunity to improve quality of life and overall survival. This book's self-contained chapter format aims to reinforce the critical importance of comprehensive cancer care centers while providing a practical guide for the essential components needed to achieve them, such as operational considerations, guidelines for best clinical inpatient and outpatient care, and research and quality management structures. Intended to be wide-ranging and applicable at a global level for both high and low income countries, this book is also instructive for regions with limited resources. The Comprehensive Cancer Center: Development, Integration, and Implementation is an essential resource for oncology physicians including hematologists, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, surgical oncologists, and oncology nurses as well as hospitals, health departments, university authorities, governments and legislators.