Webinar explores how care pathways can help improve experiences, outcomes and health system efficiency

On 10 July, the Lung Cancer Policy Network hosted the webinar ‘Care pathways for lung cancer: how can they help build a foundation for optimal care?’

Our panel of expert speakers discussed the role of care pathways in improving the experiences of patients, and outcomes for lung cancer. The discussions built on key findings from our report Care pathways for lung cancer: building a foundation for optimal care, which was published last year.

To open the webinar, Debra Montague (Lung Cancer Europe and ALK Positive UK) provided an introduction to care pathways and their role in improving lung cancer care globally. Sharing the results of the Lung Cancer Europe report Challenges in the care pathway and preferences of people with lung cancer in Europe, she underscored the importance of patient involvement in delivering evidence-based care at every stage of the pathway.

For the first expert perspectives session, Montague was joined by Dr Zulfiquer Otty (Icon Cancer Centre, Australia), and there was a pre-recorded presentation from Prof Anand Sachithanandan (Sunway and Subang Jaya Medical Centres, Malaysia). Drawing on his experience as Founder and Immediate Past President of Lung Cancer Network Malaysia, Prof Sachithanandan looked at why care pathways for lung cancer are not commonplace, and why there is limited understanding of their value and a need to develop them according to specific contexts. His presentation was complemented by a discussion between Montague and Dr Otty on challenges and opportunities along care pathways – in particular the role of digital technologies and multidisciplinary team coordination in implementing them.

During the second expert perspectives session, Andrea Borondy Kitts (Rescue Lung Society, US), Prof David Baldwin (University of Nottingham, UK) and Prof Morten Quist (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) discussed the importance of distinguishing between palliative and end-of-life care to optimise care delivery and make sure palliative care is introduced earlier; the value of care pathways in supporting earlier detection, more efficient referral and access to the latest treatments (referencing NHS England’s National Optimal Lung Cancer Pathway); and the role of rehabilitation in the care pathway, particularly for those with advanced lung cancer, using the example of the EXHALE programme.

At the audience Q&A session, our speakers offered insights on the role of care pathways in establishing consensus on the expected standards of lung cancer care and adopting a holistic approach to care that prioritises quality of life.

Prof Baldwin’s closing remarks emphasised that the consensus among the lung cancer community on the value of high-quality care pathways is significant, and should stimulate urgent action to develop, implement and optimise them.

Thank you to those who joined us, and a particular thanks to our wonderful speakers!

Later this year we are hosting a webinar on the earlier detection of lung cancer, building on the Increasing the earlier detection of lung cancer: a toolbox for change report published last year. Sign up to the Network newsletter to be notified about the webinar and to learn about other aspects of our work.