1. A pilot evaluation of the expanded prostate cancer index composite for clinical practice (EPIC-CP) tool in Ontario.
- Author
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Brundage MD, Barbera L, McCallum F, and Howell DM
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Ontario, Pilot Projects, Surveys and Questionnaires, Outcome Assessment, Health Care methods, Patient Reported Outcome Measures, Prostatic Neoplasms diagnosis, Quality of Life psychology
- Abstract
Purpose: To introduce the EPIC-CP symptom screening tool in routine ambulatory cancer care, and to evaluate its acceptability and perceived usefulness from the perspective of patients and clinicians., Methods: Eligible prostate cancer patients from four cancer centres were recruited (November 2014-June 2015) from radiation or surgical oncology clinics. A physician and/or health care professional reviewed the EPIC-CP results as part of the clinical encounter. Patient experience with the tool was evaluated using a nine-item Patient Exit Survey (PES). Clinician experience was evaluated through semi-structured qualitative interviews. Patient and clinician results were compared to identify common themes., Results: A total of 333 patients were enrolled, of whom, 287 completed the PES. Most patients had one clinical encounter, although the number of EPIC-CP assessments ranged from 1 to 11 per patient, for a total of 937 EPIC-CP questionnaires completed. Item completion rates were high (91-100%), with items addressing sexual health among the lowest (91-92%). On the PES, most patients (70%) agreed with the item: "Completing this questionnaire helped me tell the clinicians about how I have been feeling". Thematic analysis from clinician interviews revealed that the EPIC-CP captures essential prostate-specific effects that facilitated person-centred communication and customization of interventions. Targeted clinical education and patient resources were seen as necessary for uptake., Conclusions: EPIC-CP was generally endorsed by clinicians and patients. The implementation of a disease-specific measure in place of a generic symptom screening tool has the potential to improve the quality of the clinical encounter and provide outcome measures for further health services research. Provincial implementation of this tool as a standard of care is recommended.
- Published
- 2019
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