Frank A. Oski Lectureship

The purpose of the annual Frank A. Oski Lectureship is to remember Dr. Oski, to assure that the younger generation of pediatric hematology/oncology specialists is aware of his many contributions, and to honor an outstanding clinical or laboratory investigator in pediatric hematology/oncology whose cutting-edge research is of the caliber of the investigations made by Dr. Oski.

Lillian Sung, MD PhD
Hospital for Sick Children
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Decision Making in Pediatric Oncology: Evaluation and Incorporation of Patient and Parent Preferences

Objectives:

1. To appreciate the importance of patient decision making in pediatric oncology
2. To know that there are several approaches to the measurement patient preferences

Decision making in pediatric oncology is frequently difficult. Outcomes are often uncertain and the available options may have different benefit and harm profiles. Furthermore, patients may value the same outcomes differently although it is important to note that values are not static. There are several motivations to research patient decision making. First, recognizing and tailoring care based on patient preferences can increase patient satisfaction and may improve health related quality of life. Second, there is an ethical imperative to support informed and autonomous patient decision making if this style of decision making is desired by the patient. Third, in the era of increasing resource limitations, research into decision making can identify items which are most important to patients and assist in priority setting. Finally, this information can be used to plan programs to optimize acceptance of these programs. We will discuss three approaches to studying preferences in the context of patient decision making: (1) decision analysis; (2) probability threshold technique; and (3) discrete choice analysis. Examples of these techniques will be illustrated.

Previous Recipients of this prestigious award are:

Mignon Loh, MD (2011)
Lessons Learned from Studying Children with Hematopoietic Malignancies

A recording of this lecture (audio and slides) is available for download at no charge.

Smita Bhatia, MD MPH (2010)
Pediatric Cancer Survivorship: Some well-traveled paths – yet miles to go…

A recording of this lecture (audio and slides) is available for download at no charge.

Donald Small, MD PhD (2009)
FLT3: Biology and Targeting in Leukemia

Todd Golub, MD (2008)
Genomic Signatures and Cancer

John Maris, MD (2007)
Translating our Evolving Knowledge of Neuroblastoma Biology to Patients with the Disease

David Williams, MD (2006)
Cell-Cell Interactions in the Bone Marrow: How Basic Studies in Stem Cell Biology Informed New Therapeutics in Cancer and Gene Therapy

Thomas Look, MD (2005)
The Emerging Genetics of T-Cell ALL in Children and Adolescents

Russell Ware, MD PhD (2004)
Hydroxyurea for Children with Sickle-cell Disease: Fact, Fiction,and Fantasy

Stuart Orkin, MD (2003)
Journey from Thalassemia to Stem Cells

George Dover, MD (2002)
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology: A Look into the Future