Increased Pain Reporting by Head and Neck Cancer Patients at Radiation Oncology Consultation: A Quality‐of‐Life Analysis

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/166159/1/lary28784.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/166159/2/lary28784_am.pd

Results of the 2012-2013 Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology (ARRO) job search and career planning survey of graduating residents in the United States

To determine the timeline used by postgraduate year (PGY)-5 radiation oncology residents during the job application process and the factors most important to them when deciding on a first job. In 2012 and 2013, the Association of Residents in Radiation Oncology conducted a nationwide electronic survey of PGY-5 radiation oncology residents in the United States during the final 2 months of their training. Descriptive statistics are reported. In addition, subgroup analysis was performed. Surveys were completed by 180 of 314 residents contacted. The median time to start networking for the purpose of employment was January PGY-4; to start contacting practices, complete and upload a curriculum vitae to a job search website, and use the American Society of Radiation Oncology Career Center was June PGY-4; to obtain letters of recommendation was July PGY-5; to start interviewing was August PGY-5; to finish interviewing was December PGY-5; and to accept a contract was January PGY-5. Those applying for a community position began interviewing at an earlier average time than did those applying for an academic position (P=.04). The most important factors to residents when they evaluated job offers included (in order from most to least important) a collegial environment, geographic location, emphasis on best patient care, quality of support staff and facility, and multidisciplinary approach to patient care. Factors that were rated significantly different between subgroups based on the type of position applied for included adequate mentoring, dedicated research time, access to clinical trials, amount of time it takes to become a partner, geographic location, size of group, starting salary, and amount of vacation and days off. The residents' perspective on the job application process over 2 years is documented to provide a resource for current and future residents and employers to use

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors predict acute kidney injury during chemoradiation for head and neck cancer

Head and neck cancer patients undergoing chemoradiation experience considerable toxicities including acute kidney injury (AKI). However, it remains unclear what factors predispose patients to renal toxicity during treatment. Here, we assessed the predictors and outcomes of patients experiencing AKI during chemoradiation. We carried out a retrospective cohort study to assess the maximum changes in serum creatinine (Cr) in 173 patients with stage III-IV head and neck cancer treated with chemoradiation between 1999 and 2012. We defined AKI as Cr increases 26.5 µmol/l or more over the pretreatment baseline. AKI was associated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) use (33.0 vs. 11.0%; P=0.0004), but no other medications or comorbidities. On multivariate analysis, ACEI use, weight loss 10% or more of body weight, and performance status 70 or more predicted for Cr increments 26.5 µmol/l or more, whereas only ACEI use predicted for Cr increments of 44.2 µmol/l or greater. Furthermore, on multivariate analysis, AKI predicted for more interventions during radiotherapy including intravenous fluid use (P=0.0005) and hospitalizations (P=0.007), as well as long-term renal dysfunction (P<0.0001). Renal toxicity was not associated with worse locoregional control, progression-free survival, or overall survival. Renal toxicity during chemoradiation was associated with ACEI use alone or coupled with weight loss 10% or more of body weight during therapy. Our results suggest that actively managing ACEI use and intravascular volume status during chemoradiation may avoid AKI, minimize subsequent interventions, and reduce the risk for long-term renal dysfunction

The Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group 2020 Spring Symposium: Is Virtual the New Reality?

PURPOSE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group (ROECSG) hosted its annual international symposium using a virtual format in May 2020. This report details the experience hosting a virtual meeting and presents attendee feedback on the platform. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The ROECSG Symposium was hosted virtually on May 15, 2020. A post-symposium survey was distributed electronically to assess attendee demographics, participation, and experience. Attendee preference and experience were queried using 3-point and 5-point Likert-type scales, respectively. Symplur LLC was used to generate analytics for the conference hashtag (#ROECSG). RESULTS: The survey was distributed to all 286 registrants with a response rate of 67% (n=191). Seventeen non-attendee responses were omitted from this analysis, for a total of 174 respondents included. Forty-seven percent (n=82) of attendees were present for the entire symposium. A preference for a virtual symposium was expressed by 45% (n=78) of respondents, while 25% (n=44) had no preference and 30% (n=52) preferred an in-person meeting; 86% (n=150) of respondents rated the symposium as “extremely” well-organized. Respondents who had not attended a prior in-person ROECSG symposium were more likely to prefer the virtual format (p=0.03). Respondents reported a preference for the virtual platform for reviewing scholarly work (n=78, 45%) and an in-person platform for networking (n=103, 59%). On the day of the symposium, #ROECSG had 408 tweets and 432,504 impressions. CONCLUSIONS: The 2020 ROECSG Symposium was well-received and can serve as a framework for future virtual meetings. While the virtual setting may facilitate sharing research, networking aspects are more limited. Effort is needed to develop hybrid virtual/in-person meetings that meet the needs of participants in both settings. Social media is a significant avenue for dissemination and discussion of information, and may be valuable in the virtual setting