Assessing the Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on 1-Year Cancer Survival in the United States.

The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on health care delivery. We used the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data to assess changes in 1-year relative survival and competing risk probabilities of cancer and non-cancer death for patients diagnosed in 2018 Q2 (pre-pandemic) and 2020 Q2 (pandemic). For all cancer sites combined, 1-year relative survival declined from 82.

Evolving patterns in systemic treatment utilization and survival among older patients with advanced cutaneous melanoma.

Introduction: In the last decade, melanoma treatment has improved significantly. However, data on population-level treatment utilization and survival trends among older patients is limited. This study aimed to analyze trends in systemic anticancer therapy (Rx), including the uptake of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), in conjunction with trends in cause-specific survival among older patients (66+) diagnosed with advanced melanoma (2008-2019).

Use of pembrolizumab among older adults with cancer in the United States, before and after FDA approval of its tumor-agnostic indication.

Introduction: Pembrolizumab, an anticancer immunotherapy agent, has received multiple approvals since its first approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2014.

Association of individual low-income status and area deprivation with mortality in multiple myeloma.

Introduction: Lower individual-level socioeconomic status (SES) and area-level SES have each been associated with poor survival outcomes among patients with multiple myeloma (MM). A body of literature suggests that individual-level SES may be differentially associated with mortality depending on area-level SES, and vice versa. This study assessed the effect of the cross-level interaction between individual low-income status and area deprivation on mortality among patients with MM.

Similar values, different expectations: How do patients and providers view 'health' and perceive the healthcare experience?

Introduction: No one can argue on the importance of health in one's life. However, the value of health in the context of other priorities for individuals is not always as clear. Further, patients' experience with the healthcare system is rarely contrasted with the service providers' expectations.

Comparative effectiveness and safety of pharmaceuticals assessed in observational studies compared with randomized controlled trials.

Background: There have been ongoing efforts to understand when and how data from observational studies can be applied to clinical and regulatory decision making. The objective of this review was to assess the comparability of relative treatment effects of pharmaceuticals from observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Methods: We searched PubMed and Embase for systematic literature reviews published between January 1, 1990, and January 31, 2020, that reported relative treatment effects of pharmaceuticals from both observational studies and RCTs.

Are Communities Willing to Transition Into Learning Health Care Communities? A Community-Based Participatory Evaluation of Stakeholders' Receptivity.

This article aims to determine receptivity for advancing the Learning Healthcare System (LHS) model to a novel evidence-based health care delivery framework-Learning Health Care Community (LHCC)-in Baltimore, as a model for a national initiative. Using community-based participatory, qualitative approach, we conducted 16 in-depth interviews and 15 focus groups with 94 participants. Two independent coders thematically analyzed the transcripts.

Prioritization and Refinement of Patient-Informed Value Elements as Attributes for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Treatment Preferences.

Background And Objective: Formative research studies can inform stated-preference instrument development to quantify the importance of various attributes of healthcare treatments. The objective of this study was to elicit from patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease the prioritization of an established set of patient-informed value elements.

Methods: Using an iterative mixed-methods study design, we engaged individuals living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Phase 1 value element elicitation and Phase 2 language refinement.

The Economic Burden of Comorbid Obstructive Sleep Apnea Among Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) imposes a substantial burden on patients and the health care system. The presence of comorbid obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been shown to increase the risk of morbidity and mortality in patients with COPD. There is limited information available on the incremental economic burden of comorbid OSA among patients with COPD.

Stakeholder-Engaged Derivation of Patient-Informed Value Elements.

Objectives: Our objective was to identify patient-informed value elements that can be used to make value assessment more patient centered.

Methods: Mixed methods were used iteratively to collect and integrate qualitative and quantitative data in a four-stage process: identification (stage 1), prioritization (stage 2), refinement (stage 3), and synthesis (stage 4). Qualitative methods involved one-on-one discussions with 14 patient stakeholders from diverse medical communities representing mental health, osteoporosis, blindness, lupus, eczema, oncology, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and hypercholesterolemia.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Orphan Drug Labels Approved by the US Food and Drug Administration.

Objectives: In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of the need to assess treatment benefit from the patient's perspective. The extent of patient-reported outcome (PRO) data included in labeling for rare disease treatment is largely unknown. The objective of this study was to review trends over time for PRO-based labeling granted by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for orphan drugs.

Medication errors in community pharmacies: The need for commitment, transparency, and research.

Medication errors place a serious medical and economic burden on the United States (U.S.) healthcare system.

Querying stakeholders to inform comparative effectiveness research.

Despite the growing recognition of the value of stakeholder engagement in research, there is limited guidance on effectively eliciting stakeholder views during the comparative effectiveness research (CER) process. This article outlines the potential role of each stakeholder (patient, provider, policymaker and payer) throughout the CER process and provides examples of practical questions that researchers can ask the four primary stakeholder groups at each step of the CER process. This guide aims to assist in the development of meaningful stakeholder-researcher shared decision-making to incorporate stakeholder views in the design, conduct and dissemination of patient-centered CER.