The dissertation defense will be open and held virtually.
This event has passed. The written dissertation or abstract is available by clicking the link below.
The PhD in Translational Health Sciences Program is proud to announce the Dissertation Defense of:
PhD Candidate: Kellie Bodeker
The Contribution of Patient Reported Outcome Measures to Shared Decision-Making In Radiation Oncology at a Midwestern Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dissertation Committee Chair: Philip van der Wees, Ph.D., PT
November 12, 2021, 10A-noon ET
Shared decision making is a conversation engaging both the provider and patient regarding health status and treatment decisions. Known benefits of shared decision making include improved quality of life as well as decreased anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, radiation oncologists are not engaging in shared decision making. Research shows instruments, such as decision aids, can increase communication as can patient reported outcomes. By increasing provider-patient communication, shared decision making should also increase and treatment should become more patient-centered. This work explores how patients and providers described an ideal communication tool and then its initial installation using a pragmatic strategy to mimic true clinical use. Initial results suggest that clinic visit time is not extended by use of the tool and that provider assessment and patient assessment of side effects remain discordant. Further work is needed to identify the impact on emergency room visits, opioid prescription patterns, outpatient visit patterns, and compliance to treatment. This work addresses the knowledge gap impeding uptake of patient reported outcome measures and shared decision making in clinical practice, translating strategies of known benefit from the research realm into the clinical realm.