Defining Care Trajectories: The Example of Endometrial Cancer

Publication date: Available online 16 December 2016 Source:Journal of Cancer Policy Author(s): François Béland, Claude Galand, John D. Fletcher, Walter H. Gotlieb, Jeremie Abitbol, Dominic Julien Background The era of patient-centered care might lead to the conclusion that there are as many configurations of healthcare utilization within episodes of care as there are patients. However, variability among episodes of care is limited by factors such as local resources or patient characteristics. As a result, the differences among episodes of care are reduced, and a limited number of care trajectories are expected. Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the ability to identify clinically significant care trajectories using data on healthcare services used by patients with endometrial cancer. Methods A retrospective review of sixteen care services used by 394 patients newly diagnosed with endometrial cancer was undertaken. Latent class analysis was used to investigate care trajectories. Results The analyses segregated patients into six care trajectories: 1) surgery without hospitalizations and emergency room [ER] visits; 2) surgery with hospitalizations and ER visits; 3) surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, without hospitalizations and ER visits; 4) surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, with hospitalizations and ER visits; 5) surgery and radiation therapy; 6) surgery and chemotherapy, with hospitalizations and ER visits. Classification of ...
Source: Journal of Cancer Policy - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: research