The ASCO Quality Care Symposium is a crucial event for healthcare professionals dedicated to improving cancer care quality. While the 2019 program continued this tradition, insights from the previous symposium in 2018 remain incredibly relevant, particularly regarding patient education’s role in enhancing care. PlatformQ Health presented compelling data at the 2018 symposium that underscores the significance of engaging patients through targeted educational initiatives. Their presentation, “Promoting Patient Engagement in Bladder Cancer (BC) Care through Education,” offered valuable lessons applicable to any quality care program, including those featured in the Asco Quality Care Symposium 2019 Program.
At the heart of effective cancer care is patient engagement. The 2018 ASCO Quality Care Symposium highlighted various approaches to elevate care standards, and PlatformQ Health’s poster session directly addressed a fundamental aspect: empowering patients through knowledge. Their research, conducted in partnership with the Bladder Cancer Advocacy Network (BCAN), focused on an online educational program designed for bladder cancer patients and caregivers. This initiative served as a model for how educational design and engagement strategies can significantly impact patient outcomes. The program’s success, as presented at the symposium, demonstrated tangible improvements in patient knowledge, communication with healthcare providers, and proactive health behaviors.
Poster presented at ASCO Quality Care Symposium 2018 highlighting patient engagement in bladder cancer care through online education
The findings from PlatformQ Health’s 2018 presentation are highly pertinent to the themes explored within the ASCO Quality Care Symposium 2019 program and beyond. Stephanie Chisolm from BCAN aptly stated the core need: “Trustworthy and engaging education is a critical component when moving patients from those receiving care to active participants in their journey.” This principle resonates deeply with the goals of any quality care symposium, including the 2019 iteration. The data presented showed that after participating in the online education, a significant majority of patients reported feeling more knowledgeable about treatment options (92%) and self-care resources (88%). Crucially, half of the learners reported enhanced communication with their healthcare providers, and over half felt more in control of their healthcare decisions.
These outcomes directly address key areas of focus for quality cancer care highlighted in events like the ASCO Quality Care Symposium 2019 program. By demonstrating the effectiveness of online patient education, PlatformQ Health provided a practical example of how to achieve better patient engagement and outcomes. Hamsa Jaganathan, PhD, Medical Director at PlatformQ Health, noted the broad applicability of their findings, stating that patient education can address topics ranging “from financial toxicity to reducing ER visits and hospitalizations, and opioid abuse in cancer patients to survivorship care plans.” These are all critical issues often discussed at symposia focused on quality and patient-centered care.
The lessons from the 2018 ASCO Quality Care Symposium, particularly PlatformQ Health’s insights into patient education, offer a valuable framework for attendees and participants of the ASCO Quality Care Symposium 2019 program and future initiatives. Empowering patients through accessible and engaging education remains a cornerstone of improving cancer care quality and achieving better patient outcomes. For those seeking to implement effective patient education strategies, exploring the model presented by PlatformQ Health at the 2018 symposium provides a strong starting point. To learn more about their approach and obtain a digital copy of their poster, Contact PlatformQ Health.
