Managing Bone Health, Pain, and Mobility in Patients With Myeloma: Palestinian Researchers Share Findings

By: Julia Fiederlein Cipriano, MS
Posted: Tuesday, May 28, 2024

Findings published in the journal BMC Cancer suggest that patients with multiple myeloma being treated within the Palestinian health-care system may not be receiving established consensus- and evidence-based recommendations for the assessment, management, and monitoring of bone health, pain, and mobility in. Thus, Ramzi Shawahna, PhD, of An-Najah National University Hospital, Nablus, Palestine, and colleagues highlighted the need for further education and training of hematologist/oncologists.

“Decision and policymakers might need to design measures and implement policies to improve adherence to the consensus- and evidence-based recommendations,” the investigators remarked. “Addressing these gaps in adherence may improve the care and outcomes of patients with multiple myeloma.”

The consensus- and evidence-based recommendations were identified via a systematic database search. A panel comprising three hematologist/oncologists, three medical students, and one pharmacologist subsequently developed a survey tool. The extent to which 10 hematologist/oncologists from 5 health-care centers in the West Bank of Palestine adhered to the recommendations was assessed.

The surveyed hematologist/oncologists had a median of 7.5 years in practice, and each cared for a median of 12.5 patients with multiple myeloma per month. Nearly all of the respondents (90%) were not found to adequately adhere to the recommended guidelines when screening for medication problems related to bone health, pain, cardiopulmonary fitness, healthy behaviors, nutritional deficits, and mental health. A total of 70% of respondents demonstrated inadequate adherence when ordering and evaluating calcium, vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, electrolytes, and phosphorus levels to monitor bone health, and 60% exhibited inadequate adherence when prescribing calcium and vitamin D supplements.

Disclosure: The study authors reported no conflicts of interest.

BMC Cancer

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