About
Assistant Professor
Division of General Internal Medicine & Health Services Research
UCLA
Project Title: Single Fraction vs. Multiple Fraction Radiation for Patients with Advanced Cancer and Painful Bone Metastases
Mentors:
Neil Wenger, MD, MPH - UCLA
Michael Ong, MD, PhD - UCLA
Michael Steinberg, MD - UCLA
Multidisciplinary Expertise:
Palliative Care, Radiation Oncology, Ethics, Health Services Research
Project description:
One example of a quality gap that has been identified by recent studies of supportive cancer care quality is the high rate of multiple fraction (compared to single fraction) palliative radiation for patients with advanced cancer and painful bone metastasis despite evidence suggesting that there are similar pain outcomes and that the burden of multiple treatments may impact quality of life negatively. The goal of this career development award is to use quantitative and qualitative methods to evaluate current practice and develop an intervention to improve radiation oncology practice that translates the best evidence from clinical trials into practice. A successful intervention aims to improve quality of life and satisfaction for a particularly vulnerable patient population while potentially decreasing healthcare costs.