Measuring adherence to the Optimal Care Pathway for people with melanoma | Karen Trapani

Karen Trapani
Research Fellow, Cancer Health Services Research
University of Melbourne Centre for Cancer Research and Melbourne School of Population and Global Health

Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) are national guides that provide a consensus expert view of best practice cancer care for 15 cancer tumour types. The Optimal Care Pathway for people with melanoma sets the benchmark for melanoma care in Australia and aims to ensure that all melanoma patients receive optimal care regardless of where they live or receive care.

This presentation describes a research project investigating the time period from melanoma diagnosis to surgical treatment for Victorian cutaneous melanoma patients. The research project posed two research questions: Are surgical treatment intervals for Victorian cutaneous melanoma patients consistent with the recommendation of the Optimal Care Pathway for people with melanoma? And are surgical treatment intervals for Victorian cutaneous melanoma patients associated with patient survival outcomes?

Karen Trapani has studied the Optimal Care Pathway for people with melanoma, investigating both adherence measurement and the impact of adherence on patient outcomes and has undertaken a data analysis to characterise OCP adherence in Victorian cutaneous melanoma patients with a particular focus on diagnostic and treatment delays. Prior to her foray into the world of epidemiology, Karen’s career was in IT project and program management.  She has delivered large scale complex programs of work across a range of industries in the public and private sector both locally and internationally.