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Infection with HPV is responsible for 5% of cancers, most of which are preventable with vaccination. Unfortunately, although vaccination rates are increasing in the United States, many adolescents remain unvaccinated due to a multifactorial set of barriers that are cultural, psychosocial, structural, and financial. At this Keynote session at the NCCN 2021 Virtual Annual Conference, a selection of expert panelists discussed efforts to improve vaccination rates.

Background: Low health literacy is associated with increased resource use and poorer outcomes in medical and surgical patients with various diseases. This observational study was designed to determine (1) the prevalence of low health literacy among surgical patients with cancer at an NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC), and (2) associations between health literacy and clinical outcomes. Methods: Patients receiving surgery (N=218) for gastrointestinal (60%) or genitourinary cancers (22%) or sarcomas (18%) were recruited during their postsurgical hospitalization. Patients self-reported health literacy using the Brief Health Literacy Screening Tool (BRIEF). Clinical data (length of stay [LoS], postacute care needs, and unplanned presentation for care within 30 days) were abstracted from the electronic medical records 90 days after surgery. Multivariate linear and logistic regressions were used to examine the relationship between health literacy and clinical outcomes, adjusting for potential confounding variables. Results: Of 218 participants, 31 (14%) showed low health literacy (BRIEF score ≤12). In regression analyses including 212 patients with complete data, low health literacy significantly predicted LoS (β = −1.82; 95% CI, −3.00 to −0.66; P=.002) and postacute care needs (odds ratio [OR], 0.25; 95% CI, 0.07–0.91). However, health literacy was not significantly associated with unplanned presentation for care in the 30 days after surgery (OR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.20–1.29). Conclusions: This study demonstrates the prevalence of low health literacy in a surgical cancer population at a high-volume NCI-designated CCC and its association with important clinical outcomes, including hospital LoS and postacute care needs. Universal screening and patient navigation may be 2 approaches to mitigate the impact of low health literacy on postsurgical outcomes.

The goal of this project was to develop a referral system to increase the likelihood that patients of childbearing age with newly diagnosed cancer receive timely information about fertility, and reduce the burden oncologists may feel when discussing and exploring fertility preservation options with their patients. The group developed and examined the effectiveness of a fertility preservation referral system through pilot-testing a developed patient education brochure. During the 12-month pilot-testing period, 776 patients of childbearing age (< 40 years) were seen at H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and 349 brochures were taken. The reproductive endocrinologist/infertility clinic experienced a 9-fold increase in the number of calls received during the 12-month study period, with 122 calls received compared with 13 the prior year. The large increase in calls illuminates the gap in patient interest and referral, and shows an effective method to transmit this information. Improving the communication of time-sensitive information about fertility and preservation options to patients with cancer is associated with an increased likelihood of improving quality of life, reducing patient distress, and increasing use of ancillary fertility-related health services. Through referring and providing patient information, this referral system allows oncologists to fulfill their obligation and make informed decisions about fertility preservation, thereby improving the full cancer care continuum.

Background: The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning (LGBTQ) population is at higher risk for multiple types of cancers compared with the heterosexual population. Expert NCCN panels lead the nation in establishing clinical practice guidelines addressing cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment of cancer sites and populations. Given the emergence of new data identifying cancer disparities in the LGBTQ population, this study examined the inclusion of medical and/or psychosocial criteria unique to LGBTQ within NCCN Guidelines. Methods: Data were collected for 32 of the 50 NCCN Guidelines. Results: NCCN panel members reported that neither sexual orientation (84%) nor gender identity (94%) were relevant to the focus of their guidelines; 77% responded that their panels currently do not address LGBTQ issues, with no plans to address them in the future. Conclusions: Greater consideration should be given to the needs of LGBTQ patients across the cancer care continuum. Given that research concerning LGBTQ and cancer is in its infancy, additional empirical and evidence-based data are needed to bolster further integration of LGBTQ-specific criteria into clinical care guidelines.