Factors Influencing Care Pathways for Breast and Prostate Cancer in a Hospital Setting

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Informatics

Background:

• Breast cancer (BCa) and prostate cancer (PCa) are leading causes of cancer incidence.
• Understanding patient care pathways is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze BCa and PCa patient care pathways by examining treatment lines.
• To evaluate the association between treatment lines and patient demographic and lifestyle characteristics.

Main Methods:

• Utilized electronic health records (EHRs) and semi-structured interviews from 83 patients at Beacon Hospital (January-November 2018).
• Performed statistical analysis to identify variables impacting patient treatment plans.

Main Results:

• Chemotherapy cycles correlated with targeted therapy, endocrine therapy, and bisphosphonate use (indicating bone metastasis).
• Prostate cancer patients who were taller, heavier, and had a BMI > 25 received more chemotherapy.
• Lifestyle factors like diet and exercise in breast cancer patients were associated with surgical interventions; initial PSA levels predicted bisphosphonate treatment.

Conclusions:

• Chemotherapy cycles, lifestyle (BCa), height, and weight (PCa) are indicators for subsequent treatment plans.
• Identifying factors influencing care pathways supports a person-centered approach and care process redesign.