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Mission
The purpose of this project is to enhance the communication about cancer prognosis between cancer care providers and cancer patients by providing them with an easily accessible compilation of information on existing web-based, interactive cancer prognostic tools.
Method
This website was developed based on a systematic review of cancer prognostic tools conducted by our research team.
Tool Eligibility
To be eligible, tools had to have an English version, focus on cancer, have an interactive component (i.e., data or information entered by the clinician or patient is manipulated via an algorithm which draws on a dataset to produce prognostic estimates), and provide at least one of the following output measures:
- Cancer or non-cancer specific mortality/overall survival;
- Disease free survival (DFS)/recurrence;
- Clinical response to treatment;
- Progression free survival (PFS)/spread; and
- Cancer therapy induced side effects.
Tools focusing on the risk of developing cancer were not included in this review.
Abstraction of Tools
Domains for the abstraction included:
- General characteristics and purpose of the calculator (i.e., goal, cancer sites (e.g., breast, prostate, etc.), cancer stage and patient population best served by the tool, intended users (including patient user), disclaimer);
- Data (i.e., algorithm, validation, data source, publications);
- Input factors (i.e., patient demographic and genetic characteristics, health status/comorbidities,
modifiable risks, impact of therapy and adjuvant treatment; - Output measures (i.e., prognostic measures, side effects, quality of life, recurrence, spread, and
- Website specifications (i.e., access, funding source, developer).
Findings
Thirty-six interactive cancer prognostic tools were identified through the three search approaches. We were unable to obtain access to six tools. Eight tools did not meet our inclusion criteria. Thus, we were able to review and abstract information on 22 tools. There was a high degree of variability with regard to the number of embedded calculators in each site (total of 107 calculators; min: 1, max: 22) and the tools addressed a total of 89 different cancers (min: 1, max: 84).
More information on this process is described in Rabin et al. Predicting cancer prognosis using interactive online tools: A systematic review and implications for cancer care providers (in press).
Team
Core Team:
- Borsika Rabin, PhD, Project Lead (email), Kaiser Permanente Colorado
- Michelle Henton, MA, Project Manager (email), Kaiser Permanente Colorado
- Bridget Gaglio, PhD, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic
- Tristan Sanders, MPH, Kaiser Permanente Colorado
- Jim Dearing, PhD, Kaiser Permanente Colorado
- Al Marcus, PhD, University of Colorado Cancer Center
- Sheana Bull, PhD, University of Colorado
- Larissa Nekhlyudov, MD, MPH, Harvard Medical School
We also appreciated the input from the following during the early conceptualization and design of this website in February 2013:
- Alanna Rahm, PhD, Kaiser Permanente Colorado
- Jessica Chubak, PhD, Group Health Research Institute
- Sarah Greene, MPH, Group Health Research Institute
Advisory Group
A group of professionals in the field of cancer communication research or related field consisted of our Advisory Group. Throughout the development, we sought out their input on the content and format of this website. Members of this Advisory Group do not necessarily endorse the use of these tools, and any inadvertent errors on the site should be considered the responsibility of the development team, and not of the advisory group.
Advisory Group members:
- Ruth Rechis-Oelker, PhD, Livestrong Foundation
- Kevin Stein, PhD, American Cancer Society
- Patti Ganz, MD, UCLA
- Sonia Okuyama Sasaki, MD, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus / Division of Medical Oncology
- Robert Fisher, MD, Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers
- E. Michael D. Scott, Prostate Cancer International, Inc.
Funding
This project was funded by the National Cancer Institute, project number 1P20 CA137219.
Disclaimer Statement
For healthcare providers and patients:
The Cancer Prognostic Resources website is for general health information only. The prognostic tools listed on this site are not to be used as a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of any health conditions or problems.
Users of the prognostic tools should not rely on information provided by the prognostic tools for their own health problems. Questions should be addressed to your own physician or other healthcare provider.
Cancer Prognostic Resources makes no warranties, nor express or implied representations whatsoever, regarding the accuracy, completeness, timeliness, comparative or controversial nature, or usefulness of any information contained or referenced in the prognostic tools. Cancer Prognostic Resources does not assume any risk whatsoever for your use of the prediction tools or the information contained herein. Health related information changes frequently and therefore information contained in the prognostic tools may be outdated, incomplete or incorrect.
Use of the prognostic tools does not create an express or implied physician-patient relationship. Cancer Prognostic Resources does not endorse or claim validity for the prognostic tools found on this website. The activities and products of Cancer Prognostic Resources and its developers and agents are not endorsed by our past, present, or future employers. Cancer Prognostic Resources does not record specific prognostic tool user information and does not contact users of the prognostic tools.
You are hereby advised to consult with a physician or other healthcare provider prior to making any decisions, or undertaking any actions or not undertaking any actions related to any healthcare problem or issue you might have at any time, now or in the future. In using the prognostic tools, you agree that neither Cancer Prognostic Resources nor any other party is or will be liable or otherwise responsible for any decision made or any action taken or any action not taken due to your use of any information presented in the prognostic tools.