Abstract P1-10-22: Evaluating the incidence of supportive care referrals generated using patient reported data from the Athena health questionnaire system
Authors: Wong EC , Kaplan CP , Shumay DM , Leykin Y , Etzel KA , Stover Fiscalini A , van't Veer LJ , Esserman LJ , Melisko ME 
Published: May 2016

Background

Patients at risk for or diagnosed with breast cancer have many symptoms and need for supportive care services. As part of the Athena Breast Health Network (a University of California-wide collaboration), the UCSF Breast Care Center (BCC) has incorporated an electronic health questionnaire system (HQS) prior to new patient and follow-up clinic visits, allowing patients to provide information on their personal health and family history, physical and psychological symptoms, and lifestyle. Based on these patient-reported outcomes (PRO), automated referrals for services including genetic counseling, psycho-oncology, social work, fertility preservation, and smoking cessation are generated. Algorithms defining thresholds to trigger these referrals were developed by clinicians and supportive care providers to proactively meet patients' needs.

Objectives

To evaluate the incidence and outcomes of supportive care referrals based on existing algorithms, and identify reasons for non-utilization of the services offered. The ultimate goal for this evaluation is to modify the existing algorithms to better meet patients' needs.

Methods

Patients initiating care at the UCSF BCC are invited by email to complete an HQS that provides information relevant to their clinical care. Patients sign an electronic consent, agreeing to have their PRO stored and accessed for research purposes. Family history, health behaviors, desired services, and responses to National Cancer Institute Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) items are processed through algorithms, generating referrals based on defined thresholds. A clinician summary report is generated and scanned into the electronic medical record (EMR), identifying services for which the patient has met thresholds. Referrals are sent to the clinician as pended orders through the EMR. Once signed by the care provider (physician or nurse practitioner), the order is routed through the EMR to the appropriate service and the patient is offered a visit or phone consultation when appropriate.

Results

Between 1/1/14 and 12/31/14, 1297 patients initiating care at the UCSF BCC completed an HQS prior to their clinic visit. 1108 patients (85.4%) agreed to have their data used for research. 623 patients (56.2%) were referred to at least one supportive care service. The table below summarizes the percentage of patients who met the defined referral thresholds:

Referrals Made, 2014Referral TypeNumber of ReferralsPercent of Patients Referred (n=1108)Genetic Counseling Services44340.0%Psychological Services25723.2%Social Work13712.4%Smoking Cessation343.1%Fertility Preservation292.6%

Ongoing analyses are underway to determine the percentage of patients who received services, explore barriers to accessing these services, and evaluate patients' preferences regarding provision of services in alternate formats, including webinars, online content, and group sessions.

Conclusions

Effective use of PRO identifies a high percentage of patients in need of supportive care services. Through analysis of utilization of services based on our existing thresholds, we hope to optimize our algorithms to better serve our patients' needs throughout the continuum of cancer care.

Citation Format: Wong EC, Kaplan CP, Shumay DM, Leykin Y, Etzel KA, Stover Fiscalini A, van't Veer LJ, Esserman LJ, Melisko ME. Evaluating the incidence of supportive care referrals generated using patient reported data from the Athena health questionnaire system. [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 P1-10-22.