Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
Cancer is a serious problem in modern medicine, and it is seen as a disease of lifestyle. Every year, around 90,000 individuals worldwide die from cancer, and 120,000 new cases are diagnosed (Lewandowska et al., 2020). Cancer-related mortality has more than doubled in women and tripled in men during the previous 40 years (Lewandowska et al., 2020). According to the World Health Organization, cancer is currently more fatal than cardiovascular illnesses, and this statistic is predicted to climb dramatically. Cancer diagnoses are expected to rise from 19 million to 21.7 million by 2030 and 24 million by 2035 (Lewandowska et al., 2020). The most frequent cancer in males is lung cancer, which accounts for around 15% of all cancer cases, followed by prostate cancer (13%), colorectal cancer (12%), and bladder cancer (7%) (Lewandowska et al., 2020). Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women, accounting for more than 15% of all cancer cases, with colorectal cancer (10%), lung cancer (9%), endometrial cancer (7%), and ovarian cancer (5%) (Lewandowska et al., 2020). Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
Cancer has a profound effect on patients and their loved ones, producing physical and psychological agony as well as bad social and spiritual experiences. Cancer can undermine a patient’s feeling of security, creating mental anguish and worry. Cancer patients must deal with physical symptoms induced by the disease and its treatment, as well as long-term health problems, disability, exhaustion, and discomfort, in addition to the stress of the diagnosis. Emotional stress and mental health concerns can cause difficulties in everyday life, such as being unable to work, having financial troubles, and lacking social support. According to the research, cancer patients have a wide range of requirements since each person reacts differently to the disease’s challenges based on their personality and comprehension of their new circumstances. Time, illness progression, and therapy all impact a patient’s mental health. Needs assessment assists in better understanding patients’ and their families’ experiences, as well as determining priorities for resource allocation, planning, and providing holistic care (Lewandowska et al., 2020). Medical personnel is largely accountable for satisfying these demands, as research shows that a lack of appropriate information and psychological support frequently causes patients’ suffering.
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Specific Health Care Issue Being Addressed In The Cancer Patients
The specific healthcare concern in cancer patients that we are addressing is the requirement for a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach to care. Cancer is a complicated disease that necessitates a multifaceted strategy to satisfy patients’ physical, emotional, and social requirements. Taberna et al. (2020) further state that inadequate treatment can result in poor health outcomes such as decreased quality of life, increased morbidity and death, and increased healthcare expenses. A multidisciplinary team of healthcare specialists, including medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurses, social workers, and other allied health professionals, is necessary for cancer patients. The team should collaborate to establish and implement a treatment plan specific to the particular patient’s needs. Furthermore, the value of psychosocial support in cancer care cannot be emphasized. Cancer patients frequently feel severe emotional discomfort, such as worry, despair, and apprehension about recurrence. These psychological symptoms might have a significant influence on their quality of life and treatment adherence. As a result, psychosocial assistance such as counseling, support groups, and other therapies that might help patients deal with their diagnosis and treatment must be included in cancer care. Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
Population Affected By The Issue And How The Population Is Relevant
The population impacted by our chosen issue is cancer patients, particularly those in old age. Cancer is more common in older persons, and the risk of developing cancer rises with age. According to the American Cancer Society (2019), adults over the age of 65 account for nearly 60% of all malignancies diagnosed in the United States. Cancer patients over the age of 65 have specific health demands that necessitate a thorough and specialized approach to care. They frequently have comorbidities, including heart disease, diabetes, or arthritis, which can complicate cancer therapy and influence health outcomes. Furthermore, older persons may have age-related changes in their bodies that influence how they respond to therapy. Cancer patients have special social and emotional demands. Many are retired, and cancer treatment might limit their capacity to engage in social activities or care for themselves. They may also have emotional difficulties as a result of their cancer diagnosis, such as worry, sadness, and fear of recurrence. As a result, it is critical to give special care to older persons with cancer that meets both their physical and emotional needs. By doing so, we can enhance health outcomes and quality of life for this population.
The Current States Of Care And Health Outcomes Related To The Chosen Issue And Target Population And Position On How To Improve The Care And Outcomes
The present condition of cancer care and health outcomes in old age is ambiguous. While advancements in cancer therapy have resulted in higher survival rates, older persons with cancer continue to face inequities in care and results. Compared to younger patients, they are less likely to obtain adequate cancer therapy, endure more treatment-related toxicities, and have shorter survival rates. Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
The perspective on how to enhance cancer care and outcomes in old age is to use a multidisciplinary, geriatric-focused approach to care. This method entails a specialized evaluation of the patient’s functional, social, and psychological requirements, careful consideration of comorbidities and medication management, and treatment options suited to the particular patient’s health state and goals. It is critical to take action on this viewpoint since the aging population is increasing and cancer is becoming more common in older persons. We can eliminate health inequities and enhance the quality of life for millions of people by improving care and outcomes for this population. Furthermore, providing high-quality and fair treatment to all patients, regardless of age, is a moral and ethical duty, and a geriatric-focused approach to care can assist in achieving this aim (Taberna et al., 2020).
Role Of The Interprofessional Team In Facilitating Improvements
The interprofessional team’s involvement in encouraging improvements for the need for a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to care for older people is critical. An interprofessional team guarantees that the patient’s health requirements are handled holistically, resulting in improved health outcomes. Medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, and radiation oncologists are needed to provide specialized cancer treatment, make decisions based on the patient’s health status, and collaborate with other team members to ensure that treatment plans are comprehensive and tailored to the patient’s individual needs (Lee & Kwak, 2020). Nurses are essential in cancer care because they provide direct patient care, administer therapies, monitor for adverse effects, and educate patients and families about cancer therapy and management. Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
Social workers are critical in treating cancer patients’ psychological needs, including counseling, support groups, and supporting patients navigating the healthcare system. Simultaneously, pharmacists assist in the management of prescription regimens, ensuring that they are appropriate for the patient’s health state and comorbidities (Lee & Kwak, 2020). Physical and occupational therapists help patients retain their physical function and independence during and after therapy.
By ensuring that healthcare professionals collaborate to address the patient’s complicated health demands, an interprofessional approach can better promote advancements in cancer care for older patients. Each team member provides a distinct viewpoint and skill to patient care, allowing for a more thorough and personalized treatment plan that takes into account the patient’s medical, psychological, and social requirements. Given that cancer care in older people necessitates a thorough and specialized strategy, it is critical that our position and engagement take an interprofessional team approach (Fowler et al., 2020). An interprofessional team approach provides the skills and resources required to meet the specific health requirements of older cancer patients, resulting in better health outcomes and quality of life. Furthermore, it guarantees that the patient’s care is patient-centered and that their beliefs, preferences, and objectives are respected. Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
Evidence And Positions Of Others That Support A Team’s Approach To Improving The Quality And Outcomes
Several position papers and evidence-based studies were discovered when researching the literature on enhancing the quality and outcomes of care for elderly cancer patients. A study published in the Journal of Geriatric Oncology in 2019 by Kotwal et al. demonstrated that a multidisciplinary team approach enhanced the quality of treatment for older cancer patients by lowering toxicity rates and length of hospital stays. This study supports our belief that addressing the complex health requirements of older cancer patients requires an interdisciplinary team approach.
Fowler et al. (2020) research published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology 2020 indicated that elderly cancer patients frequently had several comorbidities, increasing the chance of unfavorable outcomes. This study emphasizes the need for an interdisciplinary approach to treating patients’ cancer as well as their general health and well-being.
A position paper published in the Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network in 2020 by Lee and Kwak underlines the necessity for personalized treatment approaches for older cancer patients that take into account their overall health status and comorbidities. This article backs up our contention that a thorough and tailored strategy is essential for improving the health outcomes of older cancer patients. Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
The evidence and position papers serve as guides in building our position and implementation plans, highlighting the necessity of an interprofessional team approach and the need for personalized treatment plans that address the patient’s entire health and well-being. They also present evidence that this technique is successful in improving health outcomes for older cancer patients (Kotwal et al., 2019). Specific pieces of data and views support the necessity for an interprofessional team approach and comprehensive treatment plans that take the patient’s particular health requirements into account. These data and viewpoints provide a solid support for our perspective, laying the groundwork for the creation and execution of our proposed policy.
Evidence And Positions Of Others That Are Contrary To A Team’s Approach To Improving The Quality And Outcomes Of Care
In the literature review on enhancing the quality and outcomes of care for older cancer patients, some perspectives contradicted previous articles. According to the American Cancer Society (2019) position paper published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society in 2019, older cancer patients may be overtreated, resulting in needless toxicities and side effects. This research argues that a personalized strategy that considers the patient’s overall health state is required to minimize overtreatment. While this viewpoint is not necessarily opposed to ours, it emphasizes the significance of a customized approach in formulating treatment strategies for aged cancer patients. an interdisciplinary team approach is still required to guarantee that all components of the patient’s care are considered. However, an interdisciplinary team approach is still required to guarantee that all elements of the patient’s health and well-being are taken into account when designing a customized treatment plan (Kotwal et al., 2019). Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
Conclusion
Improving the quality and results of care for vulnerable groups like elderly cancer patients is a top focus for healthcare providers. Interprofessional teams can design successful ways to address this group’s particular needs and problems by fully examining current position papers and evidence-based practices. While some may disagree, an interdisciplinary team approach that takes the patient’s total health state and well-being into account is crucial in ensuring that elderly cancer patients receive the comprehensive and coordinated treatment they require. Healthcare professionals may collaborate to design policies and strategies that enhance the quality and results of care for elderly cancer patients, eventually leading to better health outcomes and a higher quality of life. Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
References
American Cancer Society. (2019). cancer facts and figures. Cancer.org. https://www.cancer.org/content/dam/cancer-org/research/cancer-facts-and-statistics/annual-cancer-facts-and-figures/2019/cancer-facts-and-figures-2019.pdf
Fowler, H., Belot, A., Ellis, L., Maringe, C., Luque-Fernandez, M. A., Njagi, E. N., Navani, N., Sarfati, D., & Rachet, B. (2020). Comorbidity prevalence among cancer patients: a population-based cohort study of four cancers. BMC Cancer, 20(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-019-6472-9
Kotwal, A. A., Presley, C. J., Loh, K. P., Huang, L.-W., Lam, V., & Wong, M. L. (2019). Geriatric oncology research at the 2019 American Geriatrics Society (AGS) annual meeting: Joint perspectives from the Young International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) and AGS Cancer and Aging Special Interest Group. Journal of Geriatric Oncology, 10(6), 994–997. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgo.2019.06.008
Lee, D. Y., & Kwak, J.-M. (2020). A comprehensive approach for older cancer patients: New challenge in an aging society. Annals of Coloproctology, 36(5), 289–290. https://doi.org/10.3393/ac.2020.10.25
Lewandowska, A., Rudzki, G., Lewandowski, T., & Rudzki, S. (2020). The problems and needs of patients diagnosed with cancer and their caregivers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(1), 87. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18010087
Taberna, M., Gil Moncayo, F., Jané-Salas, E., Antonio, M., Arribas, L., Vilajosana, E., Peralvez Torres, E., & Mesía, R. (2020). The multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach and quality of care. Frontiers in Oncology, 10, 85. https://doi.org/10.3389/fonc.2020.00085 Analysis of Position Papers for Vulnerable Populations Essay
