Oncologic Home-Hospitalization Delivers a High-Quality and Patient-Centered Alternative to Standard Ambulatory Care: Results of a Randomized-Controlled Equivalence Trial.

Purpose: Given the increasing burden of cancer on patients, health care providers, and payers, the shift of certain outpatient procedures to the patients' homes (further indicated as oncologic home-hospitalization [OHH]) might be a high-quality, patient-centered, and cost-effective alternative to standard ambulatory cancer care (SOC).

Methods: A randomized-controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the quality of a locally implemented model for OHH (n = 74) compared with SOC (n = 74). The model for OHH consisted of home administration of certain subcutaneous cancer drugs (full OHH) and home nursing assessments before ambulatory systemic cancer therapy (partial OHH).

Acupuncture as a Complementary Therapy for Cancer Care: Acceptability and Preferences of Patients and Informal Caregivers.

Background: Acupuncture can effectively manage cancer-related side effects, for both patients undergoing treatment and for cancer survivors. It may also be effective in managing physiological and psychological symptoms common among informal caregivers of cancer patients.

Objectives: The aim of this survey was to explore the acceptability and preferences of cancer patients, cancer survivors, and their informal caregivers in relation to acupuncture.

Pain Medication Adherence in Patients with Cancer: A Pragmatic Review.

Objective: Adherence to pain medication in patients with cancer is crucial for successful pain therapy. This review aimed to investigate the rate of adherence, which factors influence adherence, whether adherence differs in diverse patient populations, whether there are methods to improve adherence, and the relationship between adherence and pain relief.

Methods: This review was performed in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Developing and evaluating a participatory arts programme for cancer patients and their caregivers.

Objectives: Cancer patients, survivors and caregivers often encounter severe distress, having significant consequences to wellbeing, functionality and physical health. This study developed and evaluated a participatory arts programme to determine if such could help to improve the wellbeing of cancer patients and their caregivers.

Methods: To inform the development of a participatory arts programme, cancer patients and their caregivers at an Organisation of European Cancer Institute (OECI)-designated cancer centre were asked which activities they would wish to engage in (anonymous survey one).

Quality of blood samples collected at home does not affect clinical decision making for the administration of systemic cancer treatment.

The aim of this exploratory clinical study was to evaluate whether the preanalytical quality of blood samples subjected to delayed centrifugation and transport - as a result of home-sampling - is affected in a way it alters the clinical decision-making for patients under systemic cancer therapy. This evaluation is part of a comprehensive investigation of the opportunities for oncological home-hospitalization. Forty-nine patients with cancer donated two additional blood samples during their ambulatory hospital visit.

Effectiveness of Adjunctive Analgesics in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Receiving Curative (Chemo-) Radiotherapy: A Systematic Review.

Objective: Our aim was to give an overview of the effectiveness of adjunctive analgesics in head and neck cancer (HNC) patients receiving (chemo-) radiotherapy.

Design: Systematic review.

Interventions: This systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.

Underrepresentation of vulnerable older patients with cancer in phase II and III oncology registration trials: A case-control study.

Objectives: We aimed to determine the proportion of "fit" versus "vulnerable" older patients with cancer included in phase II and III oncology registration trials, as compared to the proportions in a real life oncology setting.

Methods: Trial and patient characteristics of older (≥70years) patients treated at the OECI-designated clinical cancer centre in Kortrijk and included in a phase II or III oncology registration trial were collected retrospectively. These patients were matched individually with randomly-selected patients from the general oncology setting, based on gender, age, tumour type, tumour stage, and treatment intent.

An observational pilot study to evaluate the feasibility and quality of oncological home-hospitalization.

Purpose: The objective of this pilot study was to evaluate the feasibility of oncological home-hospitalization and to compare its quality with standard ambulatory hospital care in terms of patient-reported quality of life and related endpoints by means of a set of validated patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs).

Methods: An observational cohort study (clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT03073499) was conducted, allocating patients to (partial) home-hospitalization or standard ambulatory hospital care.

Screening Methods for Age-Related Hearing Loss in Older Patients with Cancer: A Review of the Literature.

As people grow older, they may experience loss in hearing sensitivity. Age-related hearing loss may negatively affect the patient's quality of life as it may lead to social isolation. In older patients with cancer, hearing loss can seriously interfere with the patient's ability to deal properly with all aspects of their disease, and may have a cumulative effect on their already decreased quality of life.

Shifting specialized oncological care from hospital- to home-setting: is there support among patients, specialists and general practitioners?

Objectives: Oncological home-hospitalization (OHH) might be a patient-centred approach to deal with the increasing burden of cancer on health-care facilities and finances. Before implementation into practice, its feasibility, costs and support among stakeholders should be evaluated. The purpose of this trial was to explore patients', specialists' and general practitioners' (GPs) perspectives towards the opportunities of implementing OHH within the Belgian health-care system.

Detection of alcohol abuse in older patients with cancer: The integration of alcohol screening questionnaires in the comprehensive geriatric assessment.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the feasibility of implementing an alcohol screening questionnaire as part of the comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) by reporting the prevalence of alcohol abuse in a group of older patients with cancer in a Belgian cancer centre.

Materials And Methods: Patients were recruited at the Geriatric Oncology Clinic of the Kortrijk Cancer Centre and were evaluated by use of a CGA. Two alcohol screening questionnaires were integrated into the CGA: the Cutdown-Annoyed-Guilty-Eye-opener (CAGE) questionnaire and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test-screening version (AUDIT-C).

Subjective, but not objective, cognitive complaints impact long-term quality of life in cancer patients.

Objectives: Cognitive complaints, of objective or subjective nature, may negatively impact cancer patients' quality of life (QoL). Further, the early detection of cognitive alterations may lead to an improved QoL. However, the content of such screening is yet unclear.

The added value of an assessment of the patient's hand grip strength to the comprehensive geriatric assessment in G8-abnormal older patients with cancer in routine practice.

Objectives: A comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) is the key treatment approach to guide decisions in older patients with cancer. In this paper, the added value of an assessment of the patient's hand grip strength to predict survival in patients with an abnormal G8-questionnaire (G8) score is investigated.

Materials And Methods: Patients were screened by the G8, followed by a CGA in case of an abnormal screening (≤14.

Organization, quality and cost of oncological home-hospitalization: A systematic review.

Background: Home-hospitalization might be a patient-centred approach facing the increasing burden of cancer on societies. This systematic review assessed how oncological home-hospitalization has been organized and to what extent its quality and costs were evaluated.

Results: Twenty-four papers describing parenteral cancer drug administration to adult patients in their homes were included.

Seen through the patients' eyes: Safety of chronic illness care.

Objective: Due to the increasing burden of chronic diseases, a considerable part of care delivery will continue to shift from secondary to primary care, and home care settings. Despite the growing importance of primary care, concerns about the safety of patients in hospitals have thus far driven most research in the field. Therefore, the present study sought to explore patients' perceptions and experiences of the safety of primary chronic care.