How Oncologists Perceive the Availability and Quality of Information Generated From Patient-Reported Outcomes (PROs).

Background: Despite increased incorporation of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures into clinical trials, information generated from PROs remains largely absent from drug labeling and electronic health records, giving rise to concerns that such information is not adequately informing clinical practice.

Objective: To evaluate oncologists' perceptions concerning the availability and quality of information generated from PRO measures. Additionally, to identify whether an association exists between perceptions of availability and attitudes concerning quality.

Monthly Patient Volumes of Buprenorphine-Waivered Clinicians in the US.

This cross-sectional study examines the number of patients prescribed buprenorphine by US clinicians who were waivered to treat 30, 100, or 275 patients concurrently.

Impact of adverse media reporting on public perceptions of the doctor-patient relationship in China: an analysis with propensity score matching method.

Objectives: Numerous studies indicate that the doctor-patient relationship in China is facing serious challenges. This study examined the impact of China Central Television's negative coverage of high medicines prices on both doctors' and patients' opinions of the doctor-patient relationship.

Setting: Data were collected in a national survey conducted during 19 December 2016 to 11 January 2017 which targeted 136 public tertiary hospitals across the country.

Global perspective on colonoscopy use for colorectal cancer screening: A multi-country survey of practicing colonoscopists.

Objectives: To examine colorectal cancer screening practices among colonoscopy specialists from 5 countries and inform public health needs in improvement of the ongoing global crisis in colorectal cancer.

Methods: An online survey among colonoscopy specialists was conducted in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Japan, and the United States. The survey covered topics on colonoscopy practices in the screening as well as in the treatment setting, as well as expected trends.

A review of promoting access to medicines in China - problems and recommendations.

Background: Despite recent reforms, distorting funding mechanisms and over-prescribing still maintain severe financial barriers to medicines access in China. Complicated and interrelated problems in the pharmaceutical sector require a common framework to be resolved as fragmented solutions do not work. We present a preliminary assessment of the impact of the national healthcare reforms on access to medicines, and propose policy recommendations for promoting universal access to medicines in China.

Treatment Sequencing in Advanced -Mutant Melanoma Patients: Current Practice in the United States.

Treatment of advanced -mutant melanoma has changed dramatically in the past 3 years thanks to the approval of new immunotherapy and targeted therapy agents. The goal of our survey was to investigate when immunotherapy and targeted therapy are used in the management of advanced melanoma patients and whether differences exist between the types of setting. Oncologists from academic centers, community-based centers, and private clinics were invited to participate in an online survey.

Persisting disparities between sexes in outcomes of ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm hospitalizations.

We sought to describe and analyze discrepancies between sexes in the outcomes of patients hospitalized for ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (rAAA) by conducting a retrospective analysis of the Nationwide Inpatient Sample. The review included all adult patients (≥18 years old) hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of rAAA between January 2002 and December 2014. In-hospital mortality differences between females and males were analyzed overall and separately among those receiving endovascular AAA repair (EVAR) or open AAA repair (OAR).

Variability in the therapeutic management of advanced ovarian cancer patients: a five-country survey of oncologists.

Background: Advanced ovarian cancer patients have a poor prognosis, mainly because the disease is diagnosed at a late stage. A number of therapeutic approaches, such as neoadjuvant and maintenance therapies, have been developed to try to improve treatment outcome. In parallel, the targeted therapies bevacizumab and olaparib have recently been approved for ovarian cancer treatment.

Nationwide trends of clinical characteristics and economic burden of emergency department visits due to acute ischemic stroke.

We aimed to provide estimates of the volume and associated charges of acute ischemic stroke (AIS) visits in the US, as well as to assess predictors of patient disposition following an emergency department (ED) visit for AIS. Our study was conducted using the 2010-2013 data from the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample. We identified adult visits with AIS as the primary diagnosis.

Reducing waiting time and raising outpatient satisfaction in a Chinese public tertiary general hospital-an interrupted time series study.

Background: It is globally agreed that a well-designed health system deliver timely and convenient access to health services for all patients. Many interventions aiming to reduce waiting times have been implemented in Chinese public tertiary hospitals to improve patients' satisfaction. However, few were well-documented, and the effects were rarely measured with robust methods.

Considerations on bringing warehoused HCV patients into active care following interferon-free, direct-acting antiviral drug approval.

Objectives: Until recently, lack of efficacious and tolerable hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatments prompted patient warehousing until better treatment options became available. We investigated whether the introduction of ledipasvir/sofosbuvir precipitated patient return to clinics, thereby changing HCV clinic dynamics.

Methods: Online questionnaire responses indicated the volume of HCV patients followed, the proportion of warehoused patients and those who were proactively offered new options, methods for identifying and contacting patients, and insurance authorization/reimbursement-related information.

Consumer satisfaction with tertiary healthcare in China: findings from the 2015 China National Patient Survey.

Objective: This study aims to develop understanding of Chinese patient satisfaction with tertiary hospitals.

Design: The study draws on data collected from the 2015 China National Patient Survey. A Likert five-point scale was used to formulate the questionnaires.

Recent trends in the prevalence of low-dose aspirin use for primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease in the United States, 2012-2015.

Aspirin therapy has been shown to be an effective prevention measure to reduce the risk of new or recurring cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to provide an epidemiological analysis of low-dose aspirin use for primary and secondary CVD prevention from 2012 to 2015. Estimates of self-reported low-dose aspirin use for primary and secondary CVD prevention were obtained from the National Health Interview Survey for the years 2012-2015.

Communication practices and awareness of resources for acromegaly patients among endocrinologists.

Purpose: This study was designed to assess the awareness and utilization of resources to improve patients' treatment experiences among endocrinologists who currently treat patients with acromegaly.

Methods: A total of 4,280 US endocrinologists were randomly selected from the CMS National Plan and Provider Enumeration System and were invited by mail to participate in a 20-minute online survey. In order to qualify, respondents had to be the primary physician making treatment decisions for at least one patient for their acromegaly.

Neuroendocrine tumor liver metastases treated with yttrium-90 radioembolization.

Objective: Yttrium-90 (Y-90) radioembolization is an emerging treatment option for unresectable neuroendocrine liver metastases (NELM). However, the data regarding this treatment are currently limited. This study evaluates the efficacy and tolerability of Y-90 radioembolization and identifies prognostic factors for radiographic response and survival.

Building a drug development database: challenges in reliable data availability.

Context: Policy and legislative efforts to improve the biomedical innovation process must rely on a detailed and thorough analysis of drug development and industry output.

Objective: As part of our efforts to build a publicly-available database on the characteristics of drug development, we present work undertaken to test methods for compiling data from public sources. These initial steps are designed to explore challenges in data extraction, completeness and reliability.

Modeling the Burden of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in the USA in 2013.

Objectives: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a pathological condition characterized by an abnormal, localized dilatation of the lower part of the aorta. Due to a lack of data on the natural history of AAA and risk of death from other cardiovascular diseases attributable to AAA, the true number of AAA-attributable deaths may be higher than currently estimated. This study aims to produce more realistic estimates of the burden of AAA.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Physicians' perceptions of patient treatment with recently approved drugs.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, chronic and ultimately fatal disease for which only palliative treatments existed until recently. Between 2011 and 2015, two new drugs, pirfenidone and nintedanib, were approved in the US and Europe for the treatment of IPF, providing hope for patients. The objectives of our work were to understand physicians' expected use of these new treatments in the US and Europe, and to estimate their potential.

Awareness of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis and associated practice patterns of primary care physicians and specialists.

Background: The hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome is nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, the progressive form of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, have increased risk of fibrosis, cirrhosis and end-stage liver disease. Estimates of prevalence in the United States range from 20-30% for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and 2-5% for nonalcoholic steatohepatitis; however, physician awareness of these diseases is limited.

The Prevalence of Peyronie's Disease in the United States: A Population-Based Study.

Peyronie's disease (PD) is a connective tissue disorder which can result in penile deformity. The prevalence of diagnosed PD in the United States (US) has been estimated to be 0.5% in adult males, but there is limited additional information comparing definitive and probable PD cases.