Angela M. Stover, PhD, of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discusses study findings on ways to alert clinicians when patients signal symptoms such as pain or diarrhea that may be cause for concern (Abstract 158).
Lalan S. Wilfong, MD, of Texas Oncology, discusses reducing the use of a white blood cell growth factor treatment in advanced and incurable solid tumors for patients treated at a community oncology practice.
Lauren P. Wallner, PhD, MPH, of the University of Michigan, discusses her findings from a population-based study, which showed that many patients believe they had no choice about whether or not to receive radioactive iodine, even though it often does not improve survival. There is a need, she says, for better shared decision-making (Abstract 159).
Douglas W. Blayney, MD, of Stanford University, and winner of the Joseph V. Simone Award for Excellence, summarizes his talk on the expense of cancer care and how we can reduce costs while maintaining safety and high value for people with cancer.
Fumiko Ladd Chino, MD, of Duke University, discusses results from a population study she conducted of the opioid epidemic over the past 10 years and why these medications for cancer pain should continue to be excluded from restrictive-prescribing laws (Abstract 230).
Monika K. Krzyzanowska, MD, MPH, of Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, summarized the Keynote Lecture, including the points that clinicians should carefully plan their quality improvement projects, understand the barriers to quality, and ensure their efforts are sustainable.
