Exploring Quality and Safety Best Practices at Leading International Centres.

Background: This project aimed to go beyond published literature to glean strategies and lessons learned on quality and safety (Q&S) best practices from centres with pre-eminent international reputations.

Methods: Nine centres participated in an interview; questions centred on approaches to building Q&S infrastructure around the Institute for Healthcare Improvement's (IHI's) Whole System Quality (WSQ) framework (Sampath et al. 2021).

Patient consent preferences on sharing personal health information during the COVID-19 pandemic: "the more informed we are, the more likely we are to help".

Background: Rapid ethical access to personal health information (PHI) to support research is extremely important during pandemics, yet little is known regarding patient preferences for consent during such crises. This follow-up study sought to ascertain whether there were differences in consent preferences between pre-pandemic times compared to during Wave 1 of the COVID-19 global pandemic, and to better understand the reasons behind these preferences.

Methods: A total of 183 patients in the pandemic cohort completed the survey via email, and responses were compared to the distinct pre-pandemic cohort (n = 222); all were patients of a large Canadian cancer center.

Physician Champions of Quality and Safety: Perspectives of MD Quality and Safety Leads to Drive Quality Innovation at an Academic Hospital.

While the importance of physician involvement in organizational quality and safety (Q&S) activities has been well established, a paucity of information exists on tangible supports needed to effectively execute this role. Interviews with 13 MD Q&S leads uncovered common enablers, including valuing Q&S work academically, hiring skilled collaborators, ensuring appropriate power and authority to advance Q&S initiatives, facilitating connections, emphasizing culture change and strong action by leadership. To operationalize these enablers and drive quality innovation, organizations should prioritize the identification and appointment of MD Q&S leads for each department/division and facilitate their assembly as a formal physician Q&S committee.

A blueprint for building an emergency department quality improvement and patient safety committee.

The field of quality improvement and patient safety (QIPS) has matured significantly in emergency medicine over the past decade. From standalone, strategically misaligned, and incoherently designed QIPS projects years ago, emergency department (ED) leaders have now recognized that developing a more robust QIPS infrastructure helps prioritize and organize projects for a greater likelihood of success and impact for patients and the system. This process includes the development of a well-defined, accountable, and supported departmental QIPS committee.

Getting back on track: a group psychoeducational intervention for patients and families living with head and neck cancer.

Purpose: Head and neck cancer survivors are increasing in prevalence, and 60-70% still experience at least one unmet emotional and/or physical need after treatment has ended. The purpose of this study was to determine the efficacy of a brief post-treatment psychoeducational intervention on perceived preparedness for coping with recovery using post-session evaluations.

Methods: Between August 2013 and May 2018, a two-session, multidisciplinary "getting back on track" class was delivered to head and neck cancer patients approximately 2 months following radiation treatment at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, Canada.

"It's good for the soul:" Perceptions of a formal junior faculty mentorship program at a large academic cancer centre.

Background: Mentorship fosters professional and personal growth; however, the components essential to program success remain unclear. Our objective was to evaluate and explore the impact of a junior faculty mentorship program within an academic radiation oncology department.

Materials And Methods: In 2016, our institution implemented a junior faculty mentorship program consisting of: (1) an orientation handbook; (2) faculty development sessions; and (3) direct, one-to-one selection of a mentor.

The use of personal health information outside the circle of care: consent preferences of patients from an academic health care institution.

Background: Immense volumes of personal health information (PHI) are required to realize the anticipated benefits of artificial intelligence in clinical medicine. To maintain public trust in medical research, consent policies must evolve to reflect contemporary patient preferences.

Methods: Patients were invited to complete a 27-item survey focusing on: (a) broad versus specific consent; (b) opt-in versus opt-out approaches; (c) comfort level sharing with different recipients; (d) attitudes towards commercialization; and (e) options to track PHI use and study results.

Accelerated Education Program in Radiation Medicine: International Learner Perceptions of Experiences, Outcomes, and Impact.

Purpose: The Accelerated Education Program (AEP) at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre (PM) has been offering continuing medical education courses since 2006. The purpose of this study was to assess learner experiences, perspectives, and outcomes using Kirkpatrick's Four Level Training Evaluation Model (ie, reaction, learning, behavior, results) to ascertain whether it was meeting stated goals.

Methods And Materials: Past course participants (2010-2018) were invited to participate in a semistructured interview.

Radiation Oncology Fellowship: a Value-Based Assessment Among Graduates of a Mature Program.

The University of Toronto - Department of Radiation Oncology (UTDRO) has had a well-established Fellowship Program for over 20 years. An assessment of its graduates was conducted to evaluate training experience and perceived impact on professional development. Graduates of the UTDRO Fellowship Program between 1991 and 2015 were the focus of our review.

Design and Implementation of a Distant-Learning Clinical Research Mentorship Program: The Accra-Toronto Collaboration.

Purpose: For many oncology training programs in low- and middle-income countries, dedicated time for research education and mentorship of trainees is limited. Here, we report a 1-year-long collaboration between a cancer center in Canada and one in Ghana with the aim of imparting clinical research skills and mentoring the research of radiation oncology residents.

Methods: On the basis of a needs assessment conducted in Ghana, we designed a curriculum consisting of 13 weekly seminars delivered via videoconference, followed by a 1-year-long mentorship program to support research projects.