Background: We assess the impact of bone health clinical management in breast cancer (BC) patients receiving adjuvant endocrine therapy and design a personalized clinical pathway to reduce bone loss in an Italian research hospital.
Methods: The primary endpoint was to assess (through the process improvement organizational method) the clinical pathway that post-surgical BC patients prescribed with endocrine therapy undergo to prevent bone loss. The secondary endpoint was to design a personalized clinical pathway for a prompt implementation of guidelines, to assess and possibly prescribe antiresorptive therapy.
Results: During the first year of the execution of the new Diagnostic Therapeutic Assistance Pathway, a 60% increase in Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry evaluations within 30 days and a 39.5% increase in antiresorptive therapy prescription within 90 days (since the prescription of endocrine therapy) were shown, thus increasing patients' compliance.
Conclusion: Case managers and bone health specialists in this context can improve patients' adherence to therapies and bone health, helping physicians to expand their collaboration.
Keywords: breast cancer; clinical pathways; menopause; osteoporosis; patient care management.