Clinical decisions surrounding genomic and proteomic testing among United States veterans treated for lung cancer within the Veterans Health Administration

Exploring online health information quality criteria on social media: a mixed method approach

PURPOSE

This article outlines a research study that ranked health information quality criteria on social media from experts' perspectives.

METHODOLOGY

A mixed-method approach (qualitative-quantitative) used in current research. In the qualitative phase a literature review explored existing dimensions for evaluating social media content quality, focusing on identifying common dimensions and attributes. Furthermore, a quantitative method involving experts was utilized to rank the health information quality criteria for social media.

RESULTS

The findings indicated various dimensions of health information quality in the literature. Out of 17 criteria, accuracy, credibility, and reliability had the highest ranks, while originality, value-added, and amount of data had the lowest ranks, respectively, according to experts.

CONCLUSION

The endeavor to bolster the dissemination of reliable health information on social media demands a sustained commitment to enhancing accountability, transparency, and accuracy, ensuring that users have access to information that is not only informative but also trustworthy.

Evaluation of a workplace weight management program based on WeChat platform for obese/overweight people in China using the RE-AIM framework

A Weight Management Program (WMP) is a critical and promising approach to losing excess weight and maintaining a healthy lifestyle for obese/overweight people. This study used the RE-AIM framework to retrospectively evaluate a WeChat-based workplace WMP that include low- and high-intensity interventions - self-management (SM) and intensive support (IS) - designed for employees with varying levels of health risk at a Chinese company. Both interventions incorporated with a variety of m-health technologies and behavioral strategies. While the IS group additionally received personalized feedback on diet record and intensive social support. Approximately 26% of all overweight/obese employees in the company enrolled in the program. Both groups lost a significant amount of weight at the endpoint (P < 0.001). In comparison to the SM group, the IS group had significantly higher level of compliance with self-monitoring. At six-month, 67% of individuals reported no additional weight gain. The WeChat-based WMP has received widespread praise from program participants and intervention providers in spite of difficulties encountered. This comprehensive and meticulous evaluation revealed both the strengths and weaknesses of the program, which will assist in improving implementation and balancing the cost and effectiveness of online WMP.

EGFR mutation testing and TKI treatment patterns among veterans with stage III and IV non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation testing is recommended in metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The objective of this study was to assess changes in EGFR mutation testing patterns and tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) use in US veterans with stage III-IV NSCLC between 2013 and 2017.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Retrospective study using linked data from Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Cancer Registry System, Corporate Data Warehouse, commercial laboratories, and clinical notes. Generalized linear mixed models accounting for clustering by VA facility were used to determine factors associated with EGFR mutation testing.

RESULTS

From 2013 to 2017, EGFR mutation testing increased from 29.5% to 38.4% among veterans with stage III-IV NSCLC and from 47.0% to 57.4% among veterans with stage IV non-squamous disease. Factors associated with increased odds of testing included being married, Medicare enrollment, and adenocarcinoma histology. Factors associated with decreased odds of testing included Medicaid eligibility, stage III disease, increasing age, being a current or former smoker, increasing Charlson-Deyo comorbidity score, and receiving cancer care in the South. Appropriate use of a TKI rose from 2013 to 2017 (17.2% to 74.1%).

CONCLUSION

EGFR mutation testing rates increased to almost 60% in the stage IV non-squamous NSCLC population in 2017, with residual opportunity for further increase. Several sociodemographic characteristics, comorbidities, and geographic regions were associated with EGFR mutation testing suggestive of inequitable testing decisions. Appropriate use of TKI improved drastically from 2013 to 2017 demonstrating rapidly changing practice patterns through the adoption phase of new treatment options.

Understanding Molecular Testing Uptake Across Tumor Types in Eight Countries: Results From a Multinational Cross-Sectional Survey

PURPOSE

The growth in understanding of molecular biology and genomics has augmented the development of targeted cancer treatments; however, challenges exist in access to molecular testing, an essential precursor to treatment decision-making. We used data from a cross-sectional survey to evaluate the differences in uptake of molecular testing.

METHODS

Using the aggregated results of a questionnaire developed and distributed to clinicians by IQVIA, including treatment details and investigations undertaken for patients, we compared proportions of patients receiving molecular testing and targeted treatment by cancer type for the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, Spain, South Korea, Japan, and China. We used multivariable logistic regression methods to understand the effect of country on the odds of receiving a molecular test.

RESULTS

There was a total of 61,491 cases. Across countries and cancer types, uptake rates for molecular testing ranged between 2% and 98%, with the greatest differences seen in gastric cancers (range, 23% to 70%), and significant variations were observed for both European and Asian countries. China consistently demonstrated a significantly reduced uptake for all molecular tests assessed; however; uptake of drug treatment in gastric cancers after testing positive for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 gene was higher than in some European countries (China, 85%; European range, 8% to 66%). The uptake of epidermal growth factor receptor gene testing was greater in some Asian countries relative to the United Kingdom, where incidence of lung cancer is higher (Japan: odds ratio, 3.1 [95% CI, 2.6 to 3.8]; South Korea: odds ratio, 2.7 [95% CI, 2 to 3.4]).

CONCLUSION

We have highlighted inequity in access to molecular testing and subsequent treatments across countries, which warrants improvements.

Clinical Molecular Marker Testing Data Capture to Promote Precision Medicine Research Within the Cancer Research Network

PURPOSE

To evaluate health care systems for the availability of population-level data on the frequency of use and results of clinical molecular marker tests to inform precision cancer care.

METHODS

We assessed cancer-related molecular marker test data availability across 12 US health care systems in the Cancer Research Network. Overall, these systems provide care to a diverse population of more than 12 million people in the United States. We performed qualitative analyses of test data availability for five blood-based protein, nine germline, and 14 tissue-based tumor marker tests in each health care system's electronic health record and tumor registry using key informants, test code lists, and manual review of data types and output. We then performed quantitative analyses to estimate the proportion of patients with cancer with test utilization data and results for specific molecular marker tests.

RESULTS

Health systems were able to systematically capture population-level data on all five blood protein markers, six of 14 tissue-based tumor markers, and none of the nine germline markers. Successful, systematic data capture was achievable for tests with electronic data feeds for test results (blood protein markers) or through prior manual abstraction by tumor registrars (select tumor-based markers). For test results stored in scanned image files (particularly germline and tumor marker tests), information on which test was performed and test results was not readily accessible in an electronic format.

CONCLUSION

Even in health care systems with sophisticated electronic health records, there were few codified data elements available for evaluating precision cancer medicine test use and results at the population level. Health care organizations should establish standards for electronic reporting of precision medicine tests to expedite cancer research and facilitate the implementation of precision medicine approaches.