ABSTRACT
Background: Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, oncology patients attended in-person educational sessions to understand the practicalities and side-effects of their planned systemic anti-cancer treatments (SACT). These were halted during the pandemic to minimise hospital attendances. Moreover, patients were unable to bring family or friends for support at consultations. Providing this key treatment information in a digital format using videos was proposed with these aims: 1. Improve accessibility of information. 2. Improve patient experience. 3. Improve staff experience and efficiency. Method(s): A network collaboration with the Royal Free London and North East London Cancer Alliance enabled consistency of information and increased exposure of the videos. A patient-centred approach was taken in developing the videos: 1. A baseline patient survey assessed current and proposed methods of communicating: patients received written and verbal information, but some felt they had been given 'too much' or 'not enough' information and 33% of patients reported a video would be helpful. 2. A patient focus group guided content: cannulation, real patient experiences and images of staff/facilities were identified as important. 3. The videos were translated into four languages to meet the needs of the local patient population. A multiprofessional team of doctors, nurses, managers and communications staff were involved in the development and production of the videos. Between November 2020 and September 2021, several Plan Do Study ACT (PDSA) cycles were undertaken to create, edit and review content in the production process, with patient and production team feedback throughout. Intervention(s): Three videos were produced covering an overview of treatment and the side-effects of chemotherapy and immunotherapy. These were disseminated via trust websites, YouTube and QR codes on posters. Learning outcomes of the videos were assessed by separate patient and staff feedback surveys. Result(s): 15 patients were approached prior to starting SACT to complete a questionnaire prior to and after watching the videos. Prior to watching the videos, 60% of patients felt they had not received enough SACT information, 73% were anxious about treatment. After watching the videos, 100% reported understanding of the common side-effects of treatment and how to contact the hospital for advice. 87% would recommend the videos to others, 73% would watch them again. 100% of staff surveyed agreed that the videos improved accessibility to key patient information. The videos answered common questions patients asked staff prior to starting treatment. Over six months, there have been >300 YouTube views. [Formula presented] Conclusion(s): Multilingual patient information videos are an effective way to deliver key information about SACT, improve patient experience and reduce anxiety. Next steps are to intensify signposting by increasing stakeholder exposure, and consider adapting the videos for national use. YouTube views will be counted to continue to monitor the use and sustainability of this intervention. Keywords: systemic anti-cancer therapy, digital, videos, patient education, patient experience, patient information, multilingual, staff experience, network collaboration, SACT, chemotherapy, immunotherapy Copyright © 2022
ABSTRACT
Category A and B biothreat agents are deemed to be of great concern by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and include the bacteria Francisella tularensis, Yersinia pestis, Burkholderia mallei, and Brucella species. Underscored by the impact of the 2020 SARSCoV-2 outbreak, 2016 Zika pandemic, 2014 Ebola outbreak, 2001 anthrax letter attacks, and 1984 Rajneeshee Salmonella attacks, the threat of future epidemics/pandemics and/or terrorist/criminal use of pathogenic organisms warrants continued exploration and development of both classic and alternative methods of detecting biothreat agents. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprise a large and highly diverse group of carbon-based molecules, generally related by their volatility at ambient temperature. Recently, the diagnostic potential of VOCs has been realized, as correlations between the microbial VOC metabolome and specific bacterial pathogens have been identified. Herein, we describe the use of microbial VOC profiles as fingerprints for the identification of biothreat-relevant microbes, and for differentiating between a kanamycin susceptible and resistant strain. Additionally, we demonstrate microbial VOC profiling using a rapid-throughput VOC metabolomics method we refer to as simultaneous multifiber headspace solid-phase microextraction (simultihSPME). Finally, through VOC analysis, we illustrate a rapid non-invasive approach to the diagnosis of BALB/c mice infected with either F. tularensis SCHU S4 or Y. pestis CO92.