Abstract
G Mitera1, A Bezjak2, G Delouya3, C Earle2, K Laing4, MTaylor5, S Latosinsky6, C Desbiens7, N Camuso1, M Argent-Katwala1, G Porter1
1Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, Toronto, ON
2University of Toronto, Toronto, ON
3L'Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC
4Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL
5University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC
6University of Western Ontario, London, ON
7Université Laval, Quebec City, QC
Purpose: To improve the appropriateness of cancer patient care and health care professional delivery of care by nationally collaborating, to identify a list of low value or harmful cancer services/practices frequently used in Canada.
Materials and Methods: A Task Force was assembled, facilitated by the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC); and it includes two members from each of the Canadian Society of Surgical Oncology (CSSO), Canadian Association of Medical Oncologists (CAMO), and Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO), along with an expert advisor. The methodology includes four phases: 1) identify and generate a baseline of potentially relevant items; 2) consensus process to develop the long list of items; 3) consensus process to reduce the long list to a short list; and 4) finalize and endorse a final list of low value or harmful cancer practices. This work considered existing cancer-related items from the published American Choosing Wisely® initiative and additional Canadian and/or discipline specific items. Phases 2-4 follow a consensus process where items are included or additional items were suggested based on pre-defined guiding principles of low value or harm, specifically incorporating both evidence and the Canadian context. Electronic surveys and voting processes will be used for Phases 2-4.
Results: For Phase 1 an initial list of 240 items was reviewed and 60 cancer relevant items were included. While we are currently in Phase 2 of our methodology, we plan to have the final list completed prior to the CARO conference.
Conclusions: The Choosing Wisely Canada® Cancer initiative is a unique national collaborative health services approach to help simultaneously improve cancer patient care and health care professional delivery of care by identifying relevant low value or harmful services within Canada. Through CPAC facilitation, the three professional oncology societies (CSSO, CAMO and CARO) are able to mutually inform this initiative. The final list will be completed by May 2014.
