Publications by authors named "Claudia S Roldan"
Context: There is a paucity of data describing patients' expectations of goals of palliative radiotherapy (RT) and overall prognosis.
Objectives: To explore patients' perceptions of and preferences for communication surrounding goals of palliative RT and cancer prognosis.
Methods: We conducted a qualitative study utilizing semi-structured interviews with seventeen patients with either bone or lung metastases receiving their first course of palliative RT at a comprehensive cancer center.
Background: Early specialty palliative care (PC) integration improves oncologic outcomes. We aimed to examine longitudinal relationships between specialty PC and palliative radiotherapy (RT), temporal distribution of symptoms, and predictors of earlier specialty PC.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 135 patients with metastatic cancer who received palliative RT at our institution (7/2017-2/2018) and who had died by final study follow-up (6/2021).
Purpose: Although local control is an important issue for longer-term survivors of spinal metastases treated with conventional external beam radiation therapy (EBRT), the literature on radiographic local failure (LF) in these patients is sparse. To inform clinical decision-making, we evaluated rates, consequences, and predictors of radiographic LF in patients with spinal metastases managed with palliative conventional EBRT alone.
Methods And Materials: We retrospectively reviewed 296 patients with spinal metastases who received palliative EBRT at a single institution (2006-2013).
Context: Hospice and palliative medicine (HPM) physicians frequently care for patients with substance use disorders (SUDs), but there is no consensus on which primary addiction medicine (AM) skills are essential.
Objectives: Identify key primary AM skills that physicians should acquire during an ACGME-accredited HPM fellowship program.
Methods: A modified Delphi study consisting of 18 experts on SUD in HPM and medical education.
Context: Patient-provider communication impacts how patients with cancer make decisions about treatment.
Objectives: To examine patient perceptions of discussions, decision-making, and psychosocial burdens related to receiving palliative radiotherapy (RT), in order to inform best practices for communication about palliative RT.
Methods: We conducted an exploratory qualitative study using oral questionnaires and semi-structured interviews.
Context: Palliative radiation therapy (RT) is frequently used to ameliorate cancer-associated symptoms and improve quality of life.
Objectives: To examine how palliative care (PC) as a specialty is integrated at the time of RT consultation for patients with advanced cancer.
Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 162 patients with metastatic cancer who received palliative RT at our institution (7/2017-2/2018).
Objectives: To investigate the prognostic impact of primary tumor-specific growth rate (TSGR) on treatment outcomes after definitive radiation therapy (RT) for nonoropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (non-OPSCC).
Methods: The diagnostic tumor and nodal volumes of 39 non-OPSCC patients were contoured and compared to corresponding RT planning scan volumes to determine TSGR. Overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and local recurrence-free survival were evaluated according to the Kaplan-Meier method; and hazard ratios (HR) were estimated using Cox regression.