Douglas Flora: Mika Newton and xCures share how AI tools can help improve cancer patients mental health

Douglas Flora shared a post by xCures on LinkedIn, adding:

“Thanks, Mika Newton and xCures, for sharing information about this important paper in Nature.

AI in Precision Oncology would love good manuscripts on how AI tools can help improve cancer patients’ mental health. It is an important and oft-neglected topic in Oncology.

We get so caught up in the drug selections and CT results we can forget this is a real person with real existential dread, depression, adjustment disorders, anxiety, etc.

Kyle Bonesteel, and Jennifer Bires, this paper supports everything you’ve been telling me!

We need to do better. More work is needed here.”

Quoting xCures post:

“A recent paper in Nature showcased how natural language processing can predict which cancer patients might need mental health support.

The study analyzed initial oncology consultation documents to predict whether patients would see a counselor or psychiatrist within 12 months.

The results are promising, with a balanced accuracy of 73.1% for psychiatrists and 71.0% for counselors.

This innovative use of AI highlights a significant step towards addressing the psychosocial needs of cancer patients.

Early detection of mental health needs can profoundly impact patient care and outcomes.

Key Takeaways:

• NLP can predict mental health needs from non-psychiatric medical documents.
• Balanced accuracy of over 70% for predicting both counselor and psychiatrist visits.
• Highlights the importance of integrating AI in healthcare to improve patient support.

Leveraging such AI-driven insights can enhance patient-centric approaches and support better healthcare outcomes.

Let’s embrace these technological advancements to transform patient care!

Read the paper here.

Read our LinkedIn Newsletter here.”

Source: Douglas Flora/LinkedIn and xCures/LinkedIn

Dr. Douglas Flora, MD, is a medical oncologist based in Edgewood, Kentucky, with over 24 years of dedicated service in the field. Graduating from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in 1999, Dr. Flora has since become a respected figure in oncology, affiliated with leading hospitals such as St. Elizabeth Healthcare Edgewood-Covington Hospitals and St. Elizabeth Fort Thomas Hospital.

With a background in hematology and medical oncology, Dr. Flora serves as the Chief of the Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology at the TriHealth Cancer Institute in Cincinnati, Ohio. He specializes in treating various cancers, including breast, lung, and gastrointestinal malignancies, utilizing innovative treatment approaches backed by clinical research.

Beyond patient care, Dr. Flora is dedicated to medical education, mentoring future oncologists and contributing to research initiatives aimed at improving patient outcomes. His commitment to excellence and compassionate care underscores his significant impact in the fight against cancer.