Abstract P1-10-16: Improving provider adherence to breast cancer care quality metrics: Use of a novel care planning tool
Authors: Hathaway A , Halilova K , Gaguski ME , Thomas K , Dudley WN , Stricker CT , Hammelef KJ , Panzer SL , Rocque GB 
Published: May 2016

Background: With rapid advances in research clinicians often struggle to remain current on evolving care guidelines as well as current National Quality Standards (NQS) relevant to breast cancer management. Adherence to NQS now drives much reimbursement for cancer center services but clinical workflow processes and IT solutions are often not in place to effectively document adherence. The On Q Care Planning SystemTM (CPS), an evidence-based patient assessment and care planning software, has been designed to close gaps in quality cancer care and facilitate data collection to help centers both better understand and document their adherence rates to quality care standards.

Methods: This multi-site study will enroll approximately 150 non-metastatic breast cancer patients, presenting for no greater than their second medical oncology visit, across five cancer centers. Patients must be planned for but not yet receiving chemotherapy treatment. A between subject design using 150 matched historical controls will be used to assess the impact of the 2-part intervention, at both the patient and provider level, on select quality metrics. At two consecutive clinical visits, patients will engage with the On Q CPS to assess family and medical history and current symptoms and receive two separate care plans. Care plans include (when applicable) recommendations for symptom management and appropriate referrals (i.e. genetic counseling for those at increased hereditary risk, and/or reproductive endocrinology for those interested in preserving fertility). To augment the effectiveness of the On Q CPS, providers will also participate in certified continuing medical education activities designed to educate about evidence-based assessment, decision-making, and management strategies for breast cancer patients. The primary aim is to evaluate provider adherence to select quality metrics among recently diagnosed breast cancer patients following the intervention, and compare to adherence rates for historical controls from the pre-intervention period. Metrics of primary interest include distress screening and management, complete family history assessment, genetic counseling referral, discussion of infertility risk, and discussion of fertility preservation options and/or referral to a specialist. These metrics have been chosen as the primary endpoints given that they have been historically documented as being resistant to change. Outcomes will be assessed by chart abstraction using a score card method of select quality metrics for both enrolled patients and matched historical controls.

Analysis/Results: Patient enrollment begins in June 2015 and thus data will be presented at time of symposium. Patient characteristics and primary outcomes will be analyzed using a multi-step approach to first describe and then compare, at the individual patient level, provider adherence to the select quality metrics evaluated in this study. Descriptive statistics will also be estimated within a mixed model approach for the rate with which each single metric was achieved across patients.

Conclusions: The On Q CPS, a care planning software tool, has the potential to both improve provider adherence to NQS and allow institutions an easy and accessible way to document that adherence.

Citation Format: Hathaway A, Halilova K, Gaguski ME, Thomas K, Dudley WN, Stricker CT, Hammelef KJ, Panzer SL, Rocque GB. Improving provider adherence to breast cancer care quality metrics: Use of a novel care planning tool. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium: 2015 Dec 8-12; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-10-16.