SPECIAL ISSUE : "Integrative medicine in oncology: another step forward" -
PATIENTS ADVOCACY: MORE THAN
A SIMPLY REPRESENTATIVE DEFENSE
C. Amato, A. Papè Flugy, E. Noto, D. Piazza, V. Gebbia
Vol.4 (2021), pag. 17 - 19
SPECIAL ISSUE : "Integrative medicine in oncology: another step forward" -
PATIENTS ADVOCACY: MORE THAN
A SIMPLY REPRESENTATIVE DEFENSE
C. Amato, A. Papè Flugy, E. Noto, D. Piazza, V. Gebbia
Vol.4 (2021), pag. 17 - 19
| Received | 19/02/2021 |
| Accepted | 7/04/2021 |
| Published | 26/05/2021 |
| Review by | Single-blind |
| doi | https://doi.org/10.48252/JCR9 |
ABSTRACT
Italian legislation has included citizens’ active participation and voluntary associations in the phases of planning and evaluation of health-related services. Between September 2020 and February 2021, representatives of Serena a Palermo, a patients’ advocacy group, participated in 25 multidisciplinary meetings discussing nearly 200 female cancer-speci c clinical cases. The virtual MTB included 16 hospitals. Fifty-nine diverse specialists participated in the discussion, including medical oncologists, surgeons, gynecologists, urologists, pathologists, molecular biologists, radiation oncologists, nutritionists, and radiologists. A survey was launched and implemented to measure, among the specialists involved in the MTB meetings, their perception of the impact of this project concerning improving equity of care for cancer patients in terms of acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. The survey concluded by investigating what other health care personnel should be involved in tumor boards to meet the needs of currently unmet patients. Virtual MTD participant response rate was 100%. We feel mandatory an alliance between patients and health professionals and the patient advocacy front-of ce in most, if not all, oncological centers.