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PURPOSE: To characterize donor search and selection practices, the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP) Histocompatibility Advisory Group developed a survey of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) physicians and search coordinators. Objectives were to describe search practices, understand practices surrounding urgent time to HCT, and characterize strategies used when identifying a matched unrelated donor (MUD) is unlikely. METHODS: Participants included United States physician members of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) and donor search coordinators within the NMDP network. The web-based survey was conducted February to May 2018. RESULTS: A total of 317/858 physicians (37%) and 225/327 coordinators (69%) responded, of which 263 and 194 respectively were eligible and were included in the analysis. Most centers, 142 (95%) were represented; 108 (72%) had at least one physician and 128 (85%) had at least one coordinator respondent. Most (68% physicians, 61% coordinators) indicated donor selection decisions were made by individual physicians. Urgent time to HCT was most commonly (90 and 87%, of physicians and coordinators, respectively) defined as HCT within 4–6 weeks of search nitiation. Higher HCT urgency was associated with a higher disease risk index. For urgent cases with low probability of an 8/8 MUD, 75 and 80% of physicians and coordinators endorsed short (1–2 weeks) unrelated donor search before proceeding to an alternative donor source. NMDP-provided solutions to expedite donor identification were strongly endorsed. CONCLUSIONS: This survey clarified current donor selection practices in the United States and defined urgent time to HCT. These data provide insight to NMDP on potential solutions to support the path to transplant, such as highlighting futile searches and providing alternative donor options at the time of search initiation.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a treatment for hematologic malignancies and disorders. Patients who receive HCT can face long-term physical and psychosocial effects. Survivorship care guides (care guides), which describe screening and preventive care practices were mailed to allogenic HCT recipients at clinically important timepoints (6, 12, and 24 months after HCT). The primary objective of this study was to evaluate how patients perceived and used the care guides. A cross-sectional, time-series survey was sent to all National Marrow Donor Program/Be The Match allogeneic HCT recipients from September 2012 to November 2016 after the care guides were sent; patients or caregivers could respond. Respondents who returned all 3 surveys were included (554 patients; 65 caregivers), for an overall response rate of 13% (maintenance rate of 45%). The majority of patients and caregivers strongly agreed or agreed that the care guides helped them understand that post-HCT care is important to staying healthy and that they were more familiar with recommended tests at check-up appointments. Most patients who did not share the care guides with their doctors at any of the timepoints believed their doctor knew which tests were needed. Results from this study can help inform and guide development of future tools and evaluations of educational resources for patients after HCT. Tools and educational resources, such as survivorship care guides, have the potential to help empower patients to be more knowledgeable and to understand and advocate for their survivorship care needs.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to develop a survivorship care plan (SCP) that could be individualized to facilitate long-term follow-up care of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. METHODS: A sample SCP was developed that included two documents- a treatment summary and preventive care recommendations that combined data on treatment exposures routinely submitted by HCT centers to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) with long-term follow-up guidelines. Focus groups were conducted by phone to characterize the critical patient-centered elements of the SCP. Focus group eligibility criteria included: 1) adult patients >1 year post-HCT and their caregivers (3 groups, n=22); 2) HCT physicians and advanced practice providers (APPs) (2 groups, n=14); 3) HCT nurses/social workers (4 groups, n=17), and 4) community health care professionals (3 groups, n=24). Transcripts were analyzed for saturation of key themes using NVivo 10 software. RESULTS: Patients/caregivers suggested combining the treatment summary and care guidelines into one document. They also requested sections on sexual and emotion health and the immune system. Providers wanted the treatment summary to focus only on what they absolutely must know. Themes were similar across healthcare professionals, though screening for psychosocial issues was emphasized more by the nurses/social workers. All preferred to receive the SCP electronically; however, hardcopy was considered necessary for some patients. All felt the SCP would facilitate appropriate post-HCT care. CONCLUSION: This study highlighted the need for an SCP instrument to facilitate HCT survivorship care. Furthermore, it demonstrated the feasibility and value of engaging HCT patients, caregivers and providers in developing a survivorship care tool. Their feedback was incorporated into a final SCP subsequently tested in a randomized trial.

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a complex procedure that requires availability of adequate infrastructure, personnel, and resources at transplantation centers. We conducted a national survey of transplantation centers in the United States to obtain data on their personnel, infrastructure, and care delivery models. A 42-item web-based survey was administered to medical directors of transplantation centers in the United States that reported any allogeneic HCT to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research in 2011. The response rate for the survey was 79% for adult programs (85 of 108 centers) and 82% for pediatric programs (54 of 66 centers). For describing results, we categorized centers into groups with similar volumes based on 2010 total HCT activity (adult centers, 9 categories; pediatric centers, 6 categories). We observed considerable variation in available resources, infrastructure, personnel, and care delivery models among adult and pediatric transplantation centers. Characteristics varied substantially among centers with comparable transplantation volumes. Transplantation centers may find these data helpful in assessing their present capacity and use them to evaluate potential resource needs for personnel, infrastructure, and care delivery and in planning for growth.

Be The Match® Patient and Health Professional Services (PHPS) supports patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) and caregivers by providing educational programs and resources. HCT is a potentially curative therapy for blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. To help meet the increasing demand for support services, PHPS implemented a multipronged plan to build and sustain the organization's capacity to conduct evaluation of its programs and resources. To do so, PHPS created and operationalized an internal evaluation model, developed customized resources to help stakeholders incorporate evaluation in program planning, and implemented utilization-focused evaluation for quality improvement. Formal mentorship was also critical in the development of an evidence-based, customized model and navigating inherent challenges throughout the process. Our model can serve as a guide for evaluators on establishing and operationalizing an internal evaluation program. Ultimately, we seek to improve support and education services from the time of diagnosis through survivorship.

Introduction Unrelated donor search and selection practices by hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) physicians and search coordinators are not standardized across centers, and what defines urgent TtT is not well understood. Objective To evaluate donor search practices, HCT urgency definition based on disease risk, and strategies utilized in the event of a low likelihood of identifying an HLA 8/8 matched unrelated donor (MUD). Methods From February-May 2018, NMDP's Histocompatibility Advisory Group conducted a web-based survey of ASBMT-member physicians and search coordinators in the United States (US). Results A total of 317/904 physicians (37%) and 225/333 coordinators (68%) responded. Most centers (95%) were represented; 72% had at least one physician and 85% at least one coordinator respondent. There were no statistically significant differences between physician and coordinator responses. Most (77%) indicated that donor selection decisions were made by individual physicians. Uniform use of a selection algorithm (11%) or a single decision maker (7%) for the program was uncommon. Urgent TtT was most commonly (89%) defined by respondents as HCT occurring within 4-6 weeks of search initiation (Figure 1), although 65% indicated that physicians also have individual systems to determine urgency. Higher physician-perceived HCT urgency was associated with higher disease risk index; for example, for acute myeloid leukemia (AML), 27%, 60% and 86% of physicians indicated TtT of 90% agree/strongly agree) of respondents reported good communication among physicians and search coordinators regarding desired TtT, preferred donor type, and alternatives when the preferred source was unavailable. Conclusions This national survey clarified current donor selection decision making practices in the US and defined urgent TtT. These data provide insight to NMDP on potential solutions to support the path to transplant, such as highlighting futile searches and providing alternative donor options at the time of search initiation.

Patient satisfaction is an important indicator of healthcare quality. Blood and marrow transplantation is a complex but potentially curative procedure for patients with life-threatening hematologic disorders. The Office of Patient Advocacy provides services and health education materials to transplant patients, caregivers, and family members. Satisfaction surveys help identify the specific needs of patients. This article reports findings from surveys administered to patients and family members. Key evaluation areas included: helpfulness of information and services provided and overall satisfaction with Coordinator services. Respondents were asked to describe follow-up actions taken as a result of the information/services provided and to recommend ways to improve these services. Transplant patients face complex treatment with high risks of morbidity, which may impact likelihood of survey response. The findings indicate that satisfied respondents were more likely to self advocate through follow-up actions. Respondent feedback was useful for improving Office of Patient Advocacy services.