Extent and reasons for nonadherence to antihypertensive, cholesterol, and diabetes medications: the association with depressive symptom burden in a sample of American veterans.

Objective: Persons with depressive symptoms generally have higher rates of medication nonadherence than persons without depressive symptoms. However, little is known about whether this association differs by comorbid medical condition or whether reasons for nonadherence differ by depressive symptoms or comorbid medical condition.

Methods: Self-reported extent of nonadherence, reasons for nonadherence, and depressive symptoms among 1,026 veterans prescribed medications for hypertension, dyslipidemia, and/or type 2 diabetes were assessed.

The prevalence of potentially modifiable functional deficits and the subsequent use of occupational and physical therapy by older adults with cancer.

Background: Occupational and physical therapy (OT/PT) services seek to reduce morbidity, mortality, and improve the quality of life of individuals; however, little is known about the needs and use of OT/PT for older adults with cancer. The goal of this study was to describe the functional deficits and their associations with other factors, and to examine the use of OT/PT after a noted functional deficit.

Materials And Methods: This study analyzed data from an institution-based registry that included geriatric assessments of older adults with cancer linked to billing claims data.

Determining the predictors of innovation implementation in healthcare: a quantitative analysis of implementation effectiveness.

Background: The failure rates for implementing complex innovations in healthcare organizations are high. Estimates range from 30% to 90% depending on the scope of the organizational change involved, the definition of failure, and the criteria to judge it. The innovation implementation framework offers a promising approach to examine the organizational factors that determine effective implementation.

Design of the North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness and Survivorship Study (NC ProCESS).

The North Carolina Prostate Cancer Comparative Effectiveness & Survivorship Study (NC ProCESS) was designed in collaboration with stakeholders to compare the effectiveness of different treatment options for localized prostate cancer. Using the Rapid Case Ascertainment system of the North Carolina Central Cancer Registry, 1,419 patients (57% of eligible) with newly-diagnosed localized prostate cancer were enrolled from January 2011 to June 2013, on average 5 weeks after diagnosis. All participants were enrolled prior to treatment and this population-based cohort is sociodemographically diverse.

The effects of cancer and racial disparities in health-related quality of life among older Americans: a case-control, population-based study.

Background: Understanding the impact of the cancer care system on racial/ethnic disparities in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) is increasingly important as the number of cancer survivors in the United States grows. The authors prospectively assessed changes in HRQOL before and after a first cancer diagnosis among non-Hispanic whites (NHWs), African Americans (AAs), Hispanics, and Asians in a cohort of Medicare beneficiaries with and without cancer.

Methods: Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results linked with the Medicare Health Outcomes Survey were used to identify 1778 individuals aged ≥65 years with prostate, breast, or colorectal cancer from 1998 to 2007.

US valuation of health outcomes measured using the PROMIS-29.

Objectives: Health valuation studies enhance economic evaluations of treatments by estimating the value of health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) includes a 29-item short-form HRQOL measure, the PROMIS-29.

Methods: To value PROMIS-29 responses on a quality-adjusted life-year scale, we conducted a national survey (N = 7557) using quota sampling based on the US 2010 Census.

Impact of colorectal cancer diagnosis and treatment on health-related quality of life among older Americans: a population-based, case-control study.

Background: Data on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) changes among Americans aged ≥65 following colorectal cancer (CRC) diagnosis and treatment are limited. This study compared HRQoL changes among CRC patients across stages from before to after diagnosis with matched noncancer controls.

Methods: This population-based study used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (MHOS) data set (1998-2007).

Development of the National Cancer Institute's patient-reported outcomes version of the common terminology criteria for adverse events (PRO-CTCAE).

The standard approach for documenting symptomatic adverse events (AEs) in cancer clinical trials involves investigator reporting using the National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Because this approach underdetects symptomatic AEs, the NCI issued two contracts to create a patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurement system as a companion to the CTCAE, called the PRO-CTCAE. This Commentary describes development of the PRO-CTCAE by a group of multidisciplinary investigators and patient representatives and provides an overview of qualitative and quantitative studies of its measurement properties.

Comparison of seven-day and repeated 24-hour recall of symptoms in the first 100 days after hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Context: Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) provide a way to understand the effects of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT)-related stress on patients' lives. We previously reported that weekly collection of PROs is feasible.

Objectives: Here, we report on the feasibility of daily patient-reported symptom collection and examine the relationship between daily vs.

Recommended patient-reported core set of symptoms to measure in prostate cancer treatment trials.

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee convened four working groups to recommend core sets of patient-reported outcomes to be routinely incorporated in clinical trials. The Prostate Cancer Working Group included physicians, researchers, and a patient advocate. The group's process included 1) a systematic literature review to determine the prevalence and severity of symptoms, 2) a multistakeholder meeting sponsored by the NCI to review the evidence and build consensus, and 3) a postmeeting expert panel synthesis of findings to finalize recommendations.

Recommended patient-reported core set of symptoms to measure in adult cancer treatment trials.

Background: The National Cancer Institute's Symptom Management and Health-Related Quality of Life Steering Committee held a clinical trials planning meeting (September 2011) to identify a core symptom set to be assessed across oncology trials for the purposes of better understanding treatment efficacy and toxicity and to facilitate cross-study comparisons. We report the results of an evidence-synthesis and consensus-building effort that culminated in recommendations for core symptoms to be measured in adult cancer clinical trials that include a patient-reported outcome (PRO).

Methods: We used a data-driven, consensus-building process.

Recommended patient-reported core set of symptoms and quality-of-life domains to measure in ovarian cancer treatment trials.

There is no consensus as to what symptoms or quality-of-life (QOL) domains should be measured as patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in ovarian cancer clinical trials. A panel of experts convened by the National Cancer Institute reviewed studies published between January 2000 and August 2011. The results were included in and combined with an expert consensus-building process to identify the most salient PROs for ovarian cancer clinical trials.

Recommended patient-reported core set of symptoms to measure in head and neck cancer treatment trials.

We identified a standard core set of patient-reported symptoms and health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) domains to be assessed in head and neck (H&N) cancer clinical trials. The core symptom and HRQOL domain scores were used to guide recommendations by a working group of experts as part of a National Cancer Institute Symptom Management and HRQOL Clinical Trials Planning Meeting. A PubMed search was conducted using the search terms of "health-related quality of life" and "head & neck cancer," limited to publications from January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2010.

Trajectory of overall health from self-report and factors contributing to health declines among cancer survivors.

Purpose: This study aims to quantify trajectories of overall health pre- and post-diagnosis of cancer, trajectories of overall health among cancer-free individuals, and factors affecting overall health status.

Methods: Overall health status, derived from self-rated health report, of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort participants diagnosed with incident cancer [lung (n = 400), breast (n = 522), prostate (n = 615), colorectal (n = 303)], and cancer-free participants (n = 11,634) over 19 years was examined. Overall health was evaluated in two ways: (1) overall health was assessed until death or follow-up year 19 (survivorship model) and (2) same as survivorship model except that a self-rated health value of zero was used for assessments after death to follow-up year 19 (cohort model).

Functional status declines among cancer survivors: trajectory and contributing factors.

Objective: This study aimed to quantify functional status (FS) trajectories pre- and post-diagnosis of cancer, FS trajectories among cancer-free individuals, and factors affecting FS.

Materials And Methods: Self-reported FS, scored from 0 (worst) to 100 (best), of Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study cohort participants diagnosed with incident cancer (lung (N=303), breast (N=374), prostate (N=529), colorectal (N=228)), and cancer-free participants (N=11,155) over 15 years was examined. FS was evaluated in two ways: 1) until death or follow-up year 15 (Model 1) and 2) same as survivorship model except that a FS value of zero was used for assessments after death to follow-up year 15 (Model 2).

Improving patients' understanding of terms and phrases commonly used in self-reported measures of sexual function.

Introduction: There is a significant gap in research regarding the readability and comprehension of existing sexual function measures. Patient-reported outcome measures may use terms not well understood by respondents with low literacy.

Aim: This study aims to test comprehension of words and phrases typically used in sexual function measures to improve validity for all individuals, including those with low literacy.

Organizational and physician factors associated with patient enrollment in cancer clinical trials.

Background: Our purpose was to identify physicians' individual characteristics, attitudes, and organizational contextual factors associated with higher enrollment of patients in cancer clinical trials among physician participants in the National Cancer Institute's Community Clinical Oncology Program (CCOP). We hypothesized that physicians' individual characteristics, such as age, medical specialty, tenure, CCOP organizational factors (i.e.

Characterizing weekly self-reported antihypertensive medication nonadherence across repeated occasions.

Background: Little is known about weekly variability in medication nonadherence both between and within persons.

Purpose: To characterize medication nonadherence across repeated, closely spaced occasions.

Methods: This prospective cohort study comprised four unannounced telephone assessment occasions, each separated by approximately 2 weeks.

Coexistence of urinary incontinence and major depressive disorder with health-related quality of life in older Americans with and without cancer.

Purpose: This study evaluates the prevalence and factors associated with major depressive disorder (MDD) in a population of cancer survivors and the impact of co-occurring MDD and urinary incontinence (UI) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

Methods: The prevalence of MDD risk among cancer survivors (breast, prostate, bladder, colorectal, lung, and endometrial/uterine cancers) and those without cancer was estimated using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program-Medicare Health Outcomes Survey (SEER-MHOS) linked database (n = 9,282 with cancer/n = 289,744 without cancer). Risk for MDD was measured using three items from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule, and HRQOL was measured by the SF-36.

Quality of life changes during the pre- to postdiagnosis period and treatment-related recovery time in older women with breast cancer.

Background: Health care providers have little population-based evidence about health-related quality of life (HRQOL) changes, from the pre- to postdiagnosis period, and treatment-related recovery time for women aged 65 years and older diagnosed with breast cancer.

Methods: Older women with and without breast cancer completed self-reports of HRQOL at baseline and 2 years later as part of annual Medicare Health Outcomes Surveys (MHOS). MHOS was linked to Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registries, which were used to categorize women with breast cancer by treatment type (breast-conserving surgery, breast-conserving surgery plus radiation, mastectomy) and time since diagnosis at follow-up.

Patterns of symptoms and functional impairments in children with cancer.

Background: Children with cancer experience multiple symptoms due to their disease and as a result of treatment. The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the feasibility and potential utility of using latent profile analysis (LPA), a type of cluster analysis, in children with cancer to identify groups of patients who experience similar levels of symptom severity and impairment of physical function.

Procedure: We analyzed patient-reported symptom and functional data previously collected using the Pediatric Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS).

Impact of comorbidity on health-related quality of life after prostate cancer treatment: combined analysis of two prospective cohort studies.

Objective: To improve and individualise estimates of treatment outcomes for men diagnosed with prostate cancer, we examined the impact of baseline comorbidity on health-related quality of life (HRQL) outcomes in an analysis of two pooled, prospective cohort studies.

Patients And Methods: We studied 697 patients from three academic hospitals who received radical prostatectomy (RP), external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), or brachytherapy (BT). Measures of patient-reported bowel, urinary, and sexual symptoms along with physical and mental health were prospectively collected before treatment and 3, 12, 24, and 36 months after treatment.

Comparing unmet needs between community-based palliative care patients with heart failure and patients with cancer.

Background: As the role of palliative care (PC) has yet to be clearly defined in patients with heart failure (HF), such patients may face barriers regarding PC referral. In order to maximally meet the needs of HF patients, it is necessary to understand how they compare to the classic PC population: patients with cancer.

Objective: To characterize the unresolved symptom and treatment needs with which patients with HF and those with cancer present to PC.

"Not the 'grim reaper service'": an assessment of provider knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding palliative care referral barriers in heart failure.

Background: Although similar to cancer patients regarding symptom burden and prognosis, patients with heart failure (HF) tend to receive palliative care far less frequently. We sought to explore factors perceived by cardiology, primary care, and palliative care providers to impede palliative care referral for HF patients.

Methods And Results: We conducted semistructured interviews regarding (1) perceived needs of patients with advanced HF; (2) knowledge, attitudes, and experiences with specialist palliative care; (3) perceived indications for and optimal timing of palliative care referral in HF; and (4) perceived barriers to palliative care referral.

Demographic differences in health preferences in the United States.

Background: The United States has a culturally and demographically diverse populace, and the aim of this study was to examine differences in health preferences by sex, age, ethnicity, and race.

Methods: We assessed preferences for health outcomes defined by the PROMIS-29 survey in a sample of the US population. On the basis of the survey's 540 paired-comparisons trading off lifespan and 7 domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), we compared the choices between men and women, adults age 18-54 years and 55 years and older, Hispanics and non-Hispanics, and non-Hispanic blacks and whites.