Citations

Purpose To examine how qualitative narrative comments and quantitative ratings from end-of-rotation assessments change for a cohort of residents from entry to graduation, and explore associations between comments and ratings. Method The authors obtained end-of-rotation quantitative ratings and narrative comments for 1 cohort of internal medicine residents at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine from July 2013–June 2016. They inductively identified themes in comments, coded orientation (praising/critical) and relevance (specificity and actionability) of feedback, examined associations between codes and ratings, and evaluated changes in themes and ratings across years. Results Data comprised 1,869 assessments (828 comments) on 33 residents. Five themes aligned with ACGME competencies (interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, medical knowledge, patient care, and systems-based practice), and 3 did not (personal attributes, summative judgment, and comparison to training level). Work ethic was the most frequent subtheme. Comments emphasized medical knowledge more in year 1 and focused more on autonomy, leadership, and teaching in later years. Most comments (714/828 [86%]) contained high praise, and 412/828 (50%) were very relevant. Average ratings correlated positively with orientation (β = 0.46, P < .001) and negatively with relevance (β = −0.09, P = .01). Ratings increased significantly with each training year (year 1, mean [standard deviation]: 5.31 [0.59]; year 2: 5.58 [0.47]; year 3: 5.86 [0.43]; P < .001). Conclusions Narrative comments address resident attributes beyond the ACGME competencies and change as residents progress. Lower quantitative ratings are associated with more specific and actionable feedback.

4009 Background: Interim analysis of a global, phase 2 KEYNOTE-059 study (NCT02335411) reported manageable safety and promising antitumor activity for pembro alone or pembro + chemo in pts with G/GEJ cancer. Here we report long-term efficacy and safety data of all cohorts. Methods: Pts with recurrent or metastatic G/GEJ adenocarcinoma were enrolled in 3 cohorts. Cohort 1 pts (PD-L1–positive or –negative) received pembro alone after ≥2 prior lines of therapy. Cohort 2 pts (PD-L1–positive or –negative) received pembro + cisplatin (80 mg/m2 day 1) + 5-fluorouracil (800 mg/m2 days 1-5 Q3W) or capecitabine (in Japan only, 1000 mg/m2 twice daily) as first-line. Cohort 3 pts (PD-L1–positive, combined positive score ≥1% using the PD-L1 IHC 22C3 pharmDx assay) received pembro alone as first-line. All pts received pembro 200 mg Q3W for up to 2 years. End points included safety, ORR, DOR, and OS. Results: At data cutoff (Aug 8, 2018), median (range) follow-up was 6 (1-38), 14 (2-40), and 21 (2-36) months for cohorts 1 (n = 259), 2 (n = 25), and 3 (n = 31), respectively. In cohort 1, confirmed ORR (95% CI) was 11.6% (8-16) overall, 15.5% (10-22) in PD-L1–positive, and 6.4% (3-13) in PD-L1–negative tumors. In cohort 2, confirmed ORR was 60.0% (39-79) overall, 73.3% (45-92) in PD-L1–positive, and 37.5% (9-76) in PD-L1–negative tumors. In cohort 3, confirmed ORR was 25.8% (12-45). Median (range) DOR in months was 16.1 (2-35+), 4.6 (3-37+), and not reached (2.1-32.5+) in cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively. OS at 1 year/2 years was 24.6%/12.5%, 52%/32%, and 63.6%/40.1% in cohorts 1, 2, and 3, respectively. In cohorts 1, 2, and 3, grade 3-5 treatment-related adverse event (TRAE) incidence was 46 (18%), 20 (80%), and 8 (26%) respectively. TRAEs led to discontinuation in 6 (2%) and 3 (12%) pts in cohorts 1 and 2, respectively, and to death in 2 (1%) pts in cohort 1. No TRAEs led to discontinuation or death in cohort 3. Conclusions: These updated results demonstrate manageable safety, durable clinically meaningful activity of pembro in heavily pretreated pts, and promising efficacy of first-line pembro (alone or + chemo) in pts with advanced G/GEJ cancer. Clinical trial information: NCT02335411.

TPS2656 Background: ESCC remains the predominant histological subtype of, and accounts for most deaths from, esophageal cancer. PD-1 inhibition has demonstrated antitumor activity and was generally well tolerated in patients (pts) with advanced unresectable or metastatic ESCC. Tislelizumab, an investigational anti-PD-1 antibody, was engineered to minimize binding to FcγR on macrophages to abrogate antibody-dependent phagocytosis, a mechanism of T-cell clearance and potential resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy. Results from early phase clinical studies suggest single-agent tislelizumab was generally well tolerated and had antitumor activity in pts with solid tumors, including ESCC. Methods: This phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind study (NCT03783442) is designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of tislelizumab plus chemotherapy as first-line treatment of unresectable, locally advanced recurrent or metastatic ESCC. Adult pts with histologically confirmed ESCC that had metastatic disease either at first diagnosis or with a ≥6 month treatment-free interval will be eligible. Additional eligibility criteria include measurable/evaluable disease, ECOG performance score ≤1, and no prior anti-PD-(L)-1, PD-L2, or other first-line therapy or palliative radiation treatment ≤4 weeks before treatment. Approximately 480 pts will be randomized 1:1 to receive investigator-chosen chemotherapy (ICC) plus tislelizumab 200 mg IV Q3W or ICC plus placebo. Chemotherapy options include: platinum (cisplatin 60–80 mg/m2 or oxaliplatin 130 mg/m2 IV Q3W) plus 5-FU 750–800 mg/m2 IV daily for 5 days Q3W; or platinum plus capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally BID for 14 days Q3W; or platinum + paclitaxel 175 mg/m2 IV Q3W. Progression-free survival and overall survival are coprimary endpoints; secondary endpoints include objective response rate, duration of response, and health-related quality-of-life. Safety will be assessed by monitoring adverse events, physical examinations, vital signs, and electrocardiograms. This study is actively enrolling. Clinical trial information: NCT03783442.

Objectives To develop neurology scenarios for use with the Quality Improvement Knowledge Application Tool Revised (QIKAT-R), gather and evaluate validity evidence, and project the impact of scenario number, rater number and rater type on score reliability. Methods Six neurological case scenarios were developed. Residents were randomly assigned three scenarios before and after a quality improvement (QI) course in 2015 and 2016. For each scenario, residents crafted an aim statement, selected a measure and proposed a change to address a quality gap. Responses were scored by six faculty raters (two with and four without QI expertise) using the QIKAT-R. Validity evidence from content, response process, internal structure, relations to other variables and consequences was collected. A generalisability (G) study examined sources of score variability, and decision analyses estimated projected reliability for different numbers of raters and scenarios and raters with and without QI expertise. Results Raters scored 163 responses from 28 residents. The mean QIKAT-R score was 5.69 (SD 1.06). G-coefficient and Phi-coefficient were 0.65 and 0.60, respectively. Interrater reliability was fair for raters without QI expertise (intraclass correlation = 0.53, 95% CI 0.30 to 0.72) and acceptable for raters with QI expertise (intraclass correlation = 0.66, 95% CI 0.02 to 0.88). Postcourse scores were significantly higher than precourse scores (6.05, SD 1.48 vs 5.22, SD 1.5; p < 0.001). Sufficient reliability for formative assessment (G-coefficient > 0.60) could be achieved by three raters scoring six scenarios or two raters scoring eight scenarios, regardless of rater QI expertise. Conclusions Validity evidence was sufficient to support the use of the QIKAT-R with multiple scenarios and raters to assess resident QI knowledge application for formative or low-stakes summative purposes. The results provide practical information for educators to guide implementation decisions.

Abstract Goals consist of determining 5-year prevalence and recurrence of methadone-related delirium (MRD), along with causes, treatments, and outcomes. Sample comprised 81 patients in methadone maintenance treatment. Criteria for MRD encompassed delirium with high methadone serum levels plus alleviation of delirium upon lowering methadone serum levels. MRD occurred in 14 cases who had 25 episodes. MRD precipitants included physician prescribing (i.e., excessive methadone or medications slowing methadone metabolism), drug misuse, and renal-fluid alterations. Social affiliation (housing with family, intimate partner) reduced MRD; employment increased MRD. Recovery occurred in 23/25 episodes of MRD; two episodes progressed to dementia. Obtaining serum methadone levels fostered prompt recognition.

OBJECTIVESpinal peripheral nerve sheath tumors (PNSTs) are a group of rare tumors originating from the nerve and its supporting structures. Standard surgical management typically entails laminectomy with or without facetectomy to gain adequate tumor exposure. Arthrodesis is occasionally performed to maintain spinal stability and mitigate the risk of postoperative deformity, pain, or neurological deficit. However, the factors associated with the need for instrumentation in addition to PNST resection in the same setting remain unclear.METHODSAn institutional tumor registry at a tertiary care center was queried for patients treated surgically for a primary diagnosis of spinal PNST between 2002 and 2016. An analysis focused on patients in whom a facetectomy was performed during the resection. The addition of arthrodesis at the index procedure comprised the primary outcome. The authors also recorded baseline demographics, tumor characteristics, and surgery-related variables. Logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with increased risk of fusion surgery.RESULTSA total of 163 patients were identified, of which 56 (32 had facetectomy with fusion, 24 had facetectomy alone) were analyzed. The median age was 48 years, and 50% of the cohort was female. Age, sex, and race, as well as tumor histology and size, were evenly distributed between patients who received facetectomy alone and those who had facetectomy and fusion. On univariate analysis, total versus subtotal facetectomy (OR 9.0, 95% CI 2.01–64.2; p = 0.009) and cervicothoracic versus other spinal region (OR 9.0, 95% CI 1.51–172.9; p = 0.048) were significantly associated with increased odds of performing immediate fusion. On multivariable analysis, only the effect of total facetectomy remained statistically significant (OR 6.75, 95% CI 1.47–48.8; p = 0.025).CONCLUSIONSThe authors found that total facetectomy and cervicothoracic involvement may be highly associated with the need for concomitant arthrodesis at the time of index surgery. These findings may help surgeons to determine the best surgical planning for patients with PNST.