The effectiveness of a provincial symptom assessment program in reaching adolescents and young adults with cancer: A population-based cohort study.

• DOI: 10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.12101
• Publication Date: 2021-06-02T15:11:41Z
• Authors: Sumit Gupta; Rinku Sutradhar; Qing Li; Natalie G. Coburn
• Keywords: young adults; Adult; Ontario; Neoplasms. Tumors. Oncology. Including cancer and carcinogens; 3. Good health; Cohort Studies; Young Adult; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; population‐based; Neoplasms; 11. Sustainability; cancer; symptoms; Humans; adolescents; Symptom Assessment; patient‐reported outcomes; Cancer Prevention; RC254-282; Retrospective Studies

12101 Background: Symptom control is prioritized by cancer patients and may improve overall survival. Several jurisdictions have thus launched population-wide initiatives to assess symptoms at regular intervals. In Ontario, Canada, for example, all are screened using the Edmonton Assessment System (ESAS) every outpatient visit. Few studies examined symptom burdens in adolescents young adults (AYA). Previous work suggests that AYA differ from those older patients, general screening tools not be appropriate. Despite this, whether current reach with unknown. We therefore determined 1) Whether were participating ESAS screening, 2) Which highest risk of being screened. Methods: identified Ontario diagnosed age 15-29 years between 2010-2018 treated adult centers. Patients linked population-based databases identify cancer-related visits year following diagnosis involved completion an form. Each patient’s first was divided into two-week periods. For each period, considered either “unscreened” if they had a visit but no score, or “screened” least one score. Periods without considered, given potential during such Covariates included diagnosis, sex, type, neighbourhood income quintile, institution type [regional centre (RCC) vs. community]. Multivariable logistic regression models implemented under generalized estimating equations approach account individual-level correlation. Results: The final cohort 5,435 AYA. Within any only 36-45% attending adjusted analyses, sex associated However, living lowest quintile less likely [odds ratio (OR) 0.86, 95 th confidence interval (95CI) 0.77-0.97; p = 0.01] compared highest. hematologic malignancies (OR 0.77, 95CI 0.67-0.88; < 0.001), as community centers 0.48, 0.42-0.55; 0.001). Conclusions: assessment program, minority Though cancers suffer particularly high burdens, Interventions targeting required increase uptake, among disadvantaged neighborhoods hospitals. Studies AYA-specific also warranted.