COPD Care Pathway Among Patients With Cancer

The feasibility of designing a novel COPD care pathway for patients with cancer that is responsive to mixed methods data by specifically addressing (i) the reduction of treatment burden of patients, (ii) the implementation of important and feasible components of COPD care, and (iii) the adaptation necessary to overcome common barriers to COPD care in the community oncology clinic, with feasibility defined by the agreement of a supermajority of stakeholders at a design team workshop.

Treatment burdens of COPD and cancer as comorbidities will be measured by self-report from patients and providers using surveys, interviews, and guided tours from at least one timepoint, with follow-up data collected from some participants up to four months later.

The options for the multiple-choice survey questions are based on historical data reporting the following specific features of COPD among patients without cancer: (i) inconsistent knowledge of the diagnosis of COPD,22 (ii) negative connotations of the diagnosis of COPD upon identity, (iii) lack of confidence in the capability of treating COPD, (iv) variable confidence in the skill of self-administering an inhaler, (v) inconsistent behavioral regulation for self-management of COPD, (vi) a goal to consolidate care to fewer appointments, (vii) lack of optimism for the ability to effectively treat COPD for positive consequences, and (viii) intention to utilize expanded access to COPD care.

Barriers to COPD care in the oncology clinic will be measured by self-report from patients and providers using surveys, interviews, and guided tours from at least one timepoint, with follow-up data collected from some participants up to four months later

A quantitative analysis of barriers to COPD care using the data from multiple-choice survey answers of patients and providers to identify which types of barriers are most commonly experienced. The options for the multiple-choice survey questions are based on historical data reporting the following barriers to COPD care among patients without cancer: (i) inadequate information for providers or (ii) patients, (iii) lack of time, (iv) patients having a lack of faith in providers, (v) medical advice that conflicts with patients' perceptions, (vi) a desire for personal responsibility, and (vii) prohibitive cost of COPD care.

For implementation by a novel care pathway at community oncology clinics will be measured by qualitative and quantitative data collected from oncology patients and providers from at least one timepoint, with follow-up data collected from some participants up to four months later.

Important and feasible components of COPD care for implementation by a novel care pathway at community oncology clinics will be measured by qualitative and quantitative data collected from oncology patients and providers from at least one timepoint, with follow-up data collected from some participants. Participants will integrate this data using a concept mapping exercise to sort and rank items to identify COPD best practices among patients with cancer.