Significance of National Cancer Institute - Research Paper Example

May 17, Introduction The National Cancer Institute is under the umbrella of our United s Department of Health (Epstein, 2011). There are eleven agencies under the Department of Health. Institutional theory dictates that all cancer-related activities are part of the institute’s realm. Cancer research and rehabilitation is part of the agency’s main priorities. Both the resource dependency theory and the institutional theory prod the National Cancer Institute to help the cancer patients. Question 7: Resource Depedence Theory Development. Pfeffer and Salancik developed the Resource Dependence Theory. The theory was grounded on the 1978 physical book The External Control of Organization. The theory of Both Pfeffer and Salancik espoused that external factors controlled or affected the organization’s achievement of its goals and objectives. The entities’ need for external resources was the external control. For example, the restaurants need the food ingredients in order to cook the customer’s food. Consequently, entities implement strategies to maximize the dependence on external resources to efficiently enhance achievement the entities goals and objectives. To accomplish this, both authors insists entities must enter into joint ventures, diversifications, integration, co-optation, and mergers (Johnson, 2009). Question 7: Development of Institutional Theory. Powell, Meyer, Scott, DiMaggion, and Rowan developed the Institutional theory. The theory was developed to explain the cognitive as well as cultural aspect of organizations. The authors insist that the entities’ responses are grounded of factors having miniscule or no relationship to the entities’ organizational efficiency. The authors insist that the entities must fit into an established framework, environment, or system in order to survive. The entities include the normative, cognitive, as well as regulative structures and routines (pillars). For example, the entities must obey the government institutions’ laws rules and sanctions. The entities must not sell cocaine or pollute the environment. Scott observed that the government institutions shaped how entities operate. The government institutions will penalize entities that violate established laws and other statutes. The theory states that as the entity’s field starts, there is diversity of approach as well as form. As the entities’ environment becomes well established, homogeneity among the entities within a segment starts to develop (Johnson, 2009). The theory indicates that the organization, especially the national cancer institute, rely on external sources (Srivastava, 2008). Patient-centered communication will reduce the cancer-related sufferings as well as ensure the patients’ needs are better met, tailoring rehabilitation on the current patients’ pain situations (Epstein, R., Street, R., 2007). How Resource Dependence Theory differs from Institutional Theory Differing from the Resource Dependence Theory, Institutional theory development states that government implemented the power to make policies. The government policies can be classified as formal. The government has a hand in the formulation of the entity’s business affairs to ensure better delivery of public services (Croce, 2012). As time goes on, the government may institute new provisions. The new provisions focused on enhancing the current public service delivery, including the National Cancer Institute’s better delivery of the current anti-cancer programs. As new drugs are discovered, the government grants permission to develop new anti-cancer drugs. The government institutes laws that will update or improve the government’s current community policies, including increasing cancer research budgets (Croce, 2012). Furthermore, institutional theory development dictates that the government sets up policies and statutes in order to give everyone or every entity a level playing field. For example, the government dictates that everyone should pay a 28 percent income tax. Likewise, the government institutes a law that penalizes murder or robbery. No one is exempted from being penalized for robbery. Every person convicted of murder will receive the same penalty, including the same number of years of incarceration (Croce, 2012). In terms of institutional theory development, the National Cancer Institute focuses on research and development of cancer care concepts. The institute offers training for individuals prioritizing cancer cases. The institute offers new information that will increase the patients’ chances of cancer survival. The institute’s line and staff medical employees have the expertise to alleviate the cancer patients’ health issues (Croce, 2012). Further, the institute offers other healthcare services. One of the services is determining the causes of the cancer cases. Another service is engaging in the diagnosis of cancer occurrences. The health professionals are experts in the field of cancer research. Consequently, the people trust the institute to successfully intervene in their cancer plight. The institute spearheads updates on the latest cancer research activities (Epstein, 2011). Another research shows the many entities, especially the institute, must not violate any pro-environment policies, improving the entity’s current functions and capacities (Sharma & Bredenburg, 1998). Another research affirms the institutional theory contributed to improved public service image of institute, in relation to better research and rehabilitation of cancer patients (Powell, 1991). Moreover, the Institutional Theory development shows the National Cancer Institute was the offshoot of the government’s implementation of the 1971 National anti-cancer program. The 1971 cancer Act filled the needs for institutionalized cancer research. The American Cancer Society was instrumental in the passage of the 1971 anti-cancer program. The American Cancer Society rallied for increased funding of cancer rehabilitation researches. United States President Richard Nixon personally launched the War against canner in 1971. Consequently, the National Cancer Institute’s cancer research budget was increased from the prior year’s $150 million to the 1971 $220 million budget. In addition, the National Cancer Institute was given autonomy in deciding all cancer-related researches (Epstein, 2011). Further, the 1971 anti cancer program set several requirements. First, the United States president appoints the National Cancer Institute director. Next, the United States president authorizes the budget of the National Cancer Institute. Third, the act made the National Cancer Institute a politically-motivated agency. As expected, the 2001 National Cancer Institute was detoured from its original goal of prioritizing cancer rehabilitation research. As proof, the cancer mortality percentage remained stable from 1975 to 2000. The National Cancer Institute’s research indicated cancer percentages were pegged at 199 deaths out of 100,000 patients (Epstein, 2011). Furthermore, the same National Cancer Institute 1975 to 2000 statistics findings show that childhood cancer increased. There was an estimated 60 percent leukemia cancer increase. There was an estimated 50 percent increase in brain cancer. There was an estimated 20 percent increase in bone cancer. The National Cancer Institute research affirmed that there was a decline in smoking-related lung cancer incidents (Epstein, 2011). Moreover, the above discussion shows that the cure to the cancer fight is prevention. The government, with the help of the National Cancer Institute, should prioritize preventing the occurrence of cancer incidents. Currently, the institute is focused on helping the current cancer patients. With the focus on cancer prevention, there will be a corresponding decline in the number of cancer incidents (Epstein, 2011). Further, one of the National Cancer Institute’s sponsored cancer research groups is the National Clinical Trials Network. The network has been conducting cancer-related research for over 50 years. The network is an umbrella of over 2,000 entities. The network includes over 13,995 cancer research investigators. The network has over 19,997 cancer patients under its research wing. The network conducts cancer research within the United States. In addition, the same network conducts cancer-related researches in countries outside our United States borders. Harvard Medical School surgery professor Monica Bertagnolli affirms that the network’s more than 50 years of existence was instrumental in the decline in the number of cancer-related deaths (An American Society of Clinical Oncology, 2013). In one National Cancer Institute research program, the J Carl Barett research team presented its cancer research findings. The biomarker findings include optimizing the drug dosage. The optimization of the drug will increase the effectiveness of the cancer rehabilitation. Likewise, the research required recording the progress of each cancer patient. The progress reports were used as basis for determining whether the increase, decrease, or retain the cancer patients’ anti-cancer intervention program. The same research focused on determining the safety of the anti-cancer intervention drugs. In fact, one anti-cancer drug company, Novartis, uses the same research biomarkers as basis for improving the efficacy of the company’s current ant-cancer drugs. The J Barrett cancer research team is part of the Novartis Drug Company’s institute of biomedical research team. The team is strategically located in Cambridge, MA. The research was conducted during 2008 in Bethesda (Srivastava, 2008). Further, one of the National Cancer Institute’s research shows there is a relation between alcohol intake and the increase in cancer rates. One of the ingredients of alcohol triggers cancer incidents. In short, the alcohol is carcinogenic. The more the person drinks alcohol, the more the same person may succumb to alcohol-related cancer. During 2009 alone, an estimated 10 percent of cancer deaths were triggered by excessive alcohol intake. The 3.5 percent equates to an estimated 20,000 mortalities during the same year, 2009 (Nelson et al, 2013). Furthermore, the same National Cancer Institute research indicated alcohol contributed to cancer incidents. The research specifically observed an increased in head cancer among excessive alcohol drinkers (Baan et al., 2007). Another National Cancer Institute research showed that smoking and alcohol increases the number of cancer incidents (Brennan et al, 2009). The National Cancer Institute’s other research showed that genes contribute to the cancer incidents (Mallet et al., 2009). Further, another National Cancer Institute research proved that genes affected the occurrence of cancer. The body uses the ADH enzyme to break down alcohol. The presence of super active ADH enzyme converts the alcohol into cancer appearances. The super active ADH creates a toxic ADH, precipitating to the patients’ suffering from the effects of cancer. The super active ADH triggered higher incidents of pancreatic cancer (Suzuki et al, 2009). Further, another research shows wine contributes to higher cancer incidents. The research focused on the effect of purified protein, wine ingredient, on cancer. The research shows that the protein was able to reduce cancer incidents. The life-saving wine ingredient is called Resveratrol. Resveratrol is a proven anti-cancer ingredient. Certain products contain resveratrol. One product that contains resveratrol is grapes. Next, another product that contains resveratrol is peanuts. Third, the product that contains Resveratrol is raspberries (Scott et al., 2011). Moreover, another National Cancer Institute research shows a new drug can alleviate the cancer issues (Kantarjian et al., 2011). One anti-cancer drug, Nilotinib, has shown favorable alleviation effects on cancer patients, specifically the leukemia cancer type. The research was conducted within a two year period. The open label randomized statistical tool was used. The patients were fed 300 mg Nilotinib tablets every 12 hours. The tablet was pegged at 400 mg. Further, the above research findings are convincing. The research had been conducted among an estimated 280 individuals. The research findings on Nilotinib show better finding compared to the Imatinib drug. Consequently, the research indicates that Nilotinib is a better first line of drug defense against lung cancer. The research included Novartis researchers. Analyze the impact of Resource Dependency Theory When Applied in a Healthcare Setting Resource Dependency Theory development states that external sources will make or break the National Cancer Institute’s drive to alleviate and stop cancer issues (Daft, 2010). The external factors affect the achievement of entity’s prescribed goals and objectives. If the researchers are successful in finding new anti-cancer drugs, the National Cancer Institute will have more cancer survivors. Likewise, the external researches on cancer prevention will help the National Cancer Institute prevent cancer from cropping up among the United States population. When the external sources of anti-cancer will present a new anticancer drug, the National Cancer Institute can immediately experiment with the new anti-cancer drugs (Srivastava, 2008). The National Cancer Institute can prescribe the new Anti-cancer drugs on the cancer patients. The research will be conducted on a few individuals. If the National Cancer Institute’s anti-cancer drug will show fruitful cancer findings, the National Cancer Institute will prescribe the new anti-cancer drug to all its cancer patients. Consequently, more people will benefit from the more curative benefits of the newly discovered anti-cancer drugs. Further, the Resource Dependency Theory development espouses that external sources will make or break the National Cancer Institute’s drive to alleviate and stop cancer issues (Epstein, 2011). If the researchers are successful in finding new anti-cancer drugs, the National Cancer Institute will have more cancer survivors. Likewise, the external researches on cancer prevention will help the National Cancer Institute prevent cancer from cropping up among the United States population. When the external sources of anti-cancer will present a new anticancer drug, the National Cancer Institute can immediately experiment with the new anti-cancer drugs (Epstein, 2011). The National Cancer Institute can prescribe the new Anti-cancer drugs on the cancer patients. The research will be conducted on a few individuals. If the National Cancer Institute’s anti-cancer drug will show fruitful cancer findings, the National Cancer Institute will prescribe the new anti-cancer drug to all its cancer patients. Consequently, more people will benefit from the more curative benefits of the newly discovered anti-cancer drugs. Analyze the impact of Institutional Theory When Applied in a Healthcare Setting Institutional theory development states that the healthcare situation, the government institute policies to increase the impact of the National Cancer Institute’s anti-cancer fights (Croce, 2012). The government will develop better anti-cancer programs and allocate patient-based budgets for the rehabilitation of the cancer patients. The government will allocate funds to buy medicines and other medical equipments. The medical equipments will contribute to the better rehabilitation of the cancer patients. The government hires experts who will help deliver high quality ant-cancer help to the cancer patients. The Institutional theory states that government established anti-cancer policies in order to ensure there is no chaos in the delivery of anti-cancer procedures and medicines. The increase in cancer patients persuades the government to increase the amounts allocated to the research and development of the required cancer rehabilitation drugs, equipments and facilities. In terms of the Institutional Theory development, the government institutes policies to increase the effectiveness of the National Cancer Institute’s anti-cancer programs. The government will allocate a budget for the rehabilitation of the cancer patients. The government will allocate funds to buy medicines and other medical equipments. The medical equipments will contribute to the better rehabilitation of the cancer patients. The government hires experts who will help deliver high quality ant-cancer help to the cancer patients. The Institutional theory states that government established anti-cancer policies in order to ensure there is no chaos in the delivery of anti-cancer procedures and medicines. Question 11: Both Resource Dependency Theory & Institutional Theory are useful for explaining the strategic behavior of the National Cancer Institute. The resource dependency theory states that a delay in the delivery of medicines and medical equipments will hinder the achievement of the institute’s goals and objectives relating to the delivery of cancer-related patient services. The delivery of defective medical equipment will trigger avoidable patient deaths. The lack of cancer professionals will lessen the number of hours allocated to patient intervention. Similarly, the institutional theory states that the National Cancer Institute must implement the government institutions’ laws, regulation and other prescribed policies. The government institutions will penalize the institute for noncompliance. For example, the institute must not exceed its prescribed annual operating budget. Next, the institute must maximize the use of scarce healthcare resource in the delivery of cancer-related services. Conclusion Based on the above discussion, the National Cancer Institute is one of agencies within the grasp of the United States Department of Health. The institute focuses on discovering new sources of anti-cancer drugs under the two leadership styles. Evidently, the continually complementing change developments of the resource dependency theory and the institutional theory ensure the National Cancer Institute successfully implements cancer-related laws related to alleviating the suffering of the cancer patients by maximizing the use of scarce externally generated cancer-related resources and researches. References: AnAmericanSocietyofClinicalOncology. (2013). Implementing a National Cancer Clinical Trials System for the 21st Century. New York: National Academies Press. Baan et al. (2007). Carcinogenicity of Alcoholic Beverages. Lancet Oncology Journal , 8 (4), 282-293. 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