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Web based pathology assessment in RTOG 98-04.

ABSTRACT: AIMS:Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 98-04 sought to identify women with ‘good risk’ ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who receive no significant benefit from radiation. Enrolment criteria excluded close or positive margins and grade 3 disease. To ensure reproducibility in identifying good risk pathology, an optional web based teaching tool was developed and a random sampling of 10% of submitted slides were reviewed by a central pathologist. METHODS:Submitting pathologists were asked to use the web based teaching tool and submit an assessment of the tool along with the pathology specimen form and DCIS H&E stained slide. Per protocol pathology was centrally reviewed for 10% of the cases. RESULTS:Of the 55 DCIS cases reviewed, three had close or positive margins and three were assessed to include grade 3 DCIS, therefore 95% of DCIS cases reviewed were correctly graded, and 89% reviewed were pathologically appropriate for enrolment. Regarding the teaching tool, 13% of DCIS cases included forms that indicated the website was used. One of these seven who used the website submitted DCIS of grade 3. CONCLUSIONS:Central review demonstrates high pathological concordance with enrolment eligibility, particularly with regard to accurate grading. The teaching tool appeared to be underused.

SUBMITTER: Woodward WA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4145412 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Web based pathology assessment in RTOG 98-04.

Woodward Wendy A WA Sneige Nour N Winter Kathryn K Kuerer Henry Mark HM Hudis Clifford C Rakovitch Eileen E Smith Barbara L BL Pierce Lori J LJ Germano Isabelle I Pu Anthony T AT Walker Eleanor M EM Grisell David Lawrence DL White Julia R JR McCormick Beryl B

Journal of clinical pathology 20140901 9

<h4>Aims</h4>Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 98-04 sought to identify women with ‘good risk’ ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) who receive no significant benefit from radiation. Enrolment criteria excluded close or positive margins and grade 3 disease. To ensure reproducibility in identifying good risk pathology, an optional web based teaching tool was developed and a random sampling of 10% of submitted slides were reviewed by a central pathologist.<h4>Methods</h4>Submitting pathologists were ask ...[more]

PMID: 24989024

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Project description:BackgroundHealth risk assessments (HRAs), which often screen for depressive symptoms, are administered to millions of employees and health plan members each year. HRA data provide an opportunity to examine longitudinal trends in depressive symptomatology, as researchers have done previously with other populations.ObjectiveThe primary research questions were: (1) Can we observe longitudinal trajectories in HRA populations like those observed in other study samples? (2) Do HRA variables, which primarily reflect modifiable health risks, help us to identify predictors associated with these trajectories? (3) Can we make meaningful recommendations for population health management, applicable to HRA participants, based on predictors we identify?MethodsThis study used growth mixture modeling (GMM) to examine longitudinal trends in depressive symptomatology among 22,963 participants in a Web-based HRA used by US employers and health plans. The HRA assessed modifiable health risks and variables such as stress, sleep, and quality of life.ResultsFive classes were identified: A "minimal depression" class (63.91%, 14,676/22,963) whose scores were consistently low across time, a "low risk" class (19.89%, 4568/22,963) whose condition remained subthreshold, a "deteriorating" class (3.15%, 705/22,963) who began at subthreshold but approached severe depression by the end of the study, a "chronic" class (4.71%, 1081/22,963) who remained highly depressed over time, and a "remitting" class (8.42%, 1933/22,963) who had moderate depression to start, but crossed into minimal depression by the end. Among those with subthreshold symptoms, individuals who were male (P<.001) and older (P=.01) were less likely to show symptom deterioration, whereas current depression treatment (P<.001) and surprisingly, higher sleep quality (P<.001) were associated with increased probability of membership in the "deteriorating" class as compared with "low risk." Among participants with greater symptomatology to start, those in the "severe" class tended to be younger than the "remitting" class (P<.001). Lower baseline sleep quality (P<.001), quality of life (P<.001), stress level (P<.001), and current treatment involvement (P<.001) were all predictive of membership in the "severe" class.ConclusionsThe trajectories identified were consistent with trends in previous research. The results identified some key predictors: we discuss those that mirror prior studies and offer some hypotheses as to why others did not. The finding that 1 in 5 HRA participants with subthreshold symptoms deteriorated to the point of clinical distress during succeeding years underscores the need to learn more about such individuals. We offer additional recommendations for follow-up research, which should be designed to reflect changes in health plan demographics and HRA delivery platforms. In addition to utilizing additional variables such as cognitive style to refine predictive models, future research could also begin to test the impact of more aggressive outreach strategies aimed at participants who are likely to deteriorate or remain significantly depressed over time.

Project description:BackgroundOnline "e-modules" integrated into medical education may enhance traditional learning. Medical students use e-modules during clinical rotations, but these often lack histopathology correlates of diseases and minimal time is devoted to pathology teaching. To address this gap, we created pediatric pathology case-based e-modules to complement the clinical pediatric curriculum and enhance students' understanding of pediatric diseases.MethodsPhilips Tutor is an interactive web-based program in which pediatric pathology e-modules were created with pre-/post-test questions. Each e-module contains a clinical vignette, virtual microscopy, and links to additional resources. Topics were selected based on established learning objectives for pediatric clinical rotations. Pre- and post-tests were administered at the beginning/end of each rotation. Test group had access to the e-modules, but control group did not. Both groups completed the pre/post-tests. Posttest was followed by a feedback survey.ResultsOverall, 7% (9/123) in the control group and 8% (13/164) in the test group completed both tests and were included in the analysis. Test group improved their posttest scores by about one point on a 5-point scale (P = 0.01); control group did not (P = 1.00). Students responded that test questions were helpful in assessing their knowledge of pediatric pathology (90%) and experienced relative ease of use with the technology (80%).ConclusionsStudents responded favorably to the new technology, but cited time constraints as a significant barrier to study participation. Access to the e-modules suggested an improved posttest score compared to the control group, but pilot data were limited by the small sample size. Incorporating pediatric case-based e-modules with anatomic and clinical pathology topics into the clinical medical education curriculum may heighten students' understanding of important diseases. Our model may serve as a pilot for other medical education platforms.

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Web based pathology assessment in RTOG 98-04.

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Web based pathology assessment in RTOG 98-04.

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