(Length of Discussion: 5 min)

Dr. Thomas Keane discusses a group analysis of an online tool to explore evolving practice patterns among patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), a topic presented by Dr. Won Kim from UCSF.  The complex and rapidly evolving treatment landscape for advanced RCC poses challenges for healthcare providers, particularly those in community settings, to make treatment decisions. To better understand current RCC treatment patterns, the objective of this study Dr. Won Kim presented was to analyze patient cases entered by health care providers in an online tool developed by five experienced RCC oncologists from leading academic institutions.  

The tool used in this study was developed in 2016 and updated in 2017 to include over 500 case variations based on key factors defined by the experts. Health care providers enter patient information and their intended treatment plan. The tool then provides expert treatment recommendations for the patient case entered, followed by a survey to determine if the recommendations changed the health care provider’s treatment plan. The authors found that there was substantial treatment variation between health care providers and experts and Dr. Thomas Keane reviews some detailed differences in the findings. 

The authors concluded that practice patterns between experts and health care providers differed substantially in patients with treatment-refractory RCC. Given that expert recommendations often changed the treatment plan of health care providers, the potential of an online tool to improve clinical outcomes and standardize treatment in patients with advanced RCC warrants further investigation.


Biography:

Thomas E. Keane, MBBCh, FRCSI, FACS 

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Complete ASCO GU 2018 Meeting Coverage