Clinical trial priorities among surgeons caring for breast cancer patients

Abstract Background Designing and prioritizing successful clinical trials benefits from increased community physician input. We surveyed practicing surgeons about current controversies in breast cancer surgery, reported practices of discussing trial participation, and perceived obstacles to trial pa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of surgery 2008-04, Vol.195 (4), p.474-480
Main Authors: Schroen, Anneke T., M.D., M.P.H, Brenin, David R., M.D., F.A.C.S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Aged
Barriers to clinical trials
Biological and medical sciences
Breast cancer
Breast Neoplasms - surgery
Cancer therapies
Clinical trial accrual
Clinical trials
Clinical Trials as Topic
Female
General aspects
General Surgery - statistics & numerical data
Health maintenance organizations
Health participants
HMOs
Humans
Likert scale
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Odds Ratio
Oncology
Participation
Patient participation
Patient Selection
Patients
Physician practice patterns
Polls & surveys
Practice Patterns, Physicians' - statistics & numerical data
Public health. Hygiene
Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine
Research priorities
Response rates
Societies, Medical
Surgery
Surveys and Questionnaires
United States
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Summary:Abstract Background Designing and prioritizing successful clinical trials benefits from increased community physician input. We surveyed practicing surgeons about current controversies in breast cancer surgery, reported practices of discussing trial participation, and perceived obstacles to trial participation. Methods A 44-question survey was mailed in 2005–2006 to 2,187 randomly selected American College of Surgeons members actively seeing breast cancer patients. Responses were analyzed by surgeon sex, practice type, oncology training, professional society membership, and breast cancer patient volume. Results A total of 923 responses were received, with 460 eligible responses remaining for analysis. Most surgeons infrequently or never discuss trial participation with breast cancer patients. Inadequate infrastructure presents the greatest physician obstacle to trial participation. Identifying proven indications for completion axillary dissection after positive sentinel node biopsy marks the highest-ranked research priority for surgeons providing breast care. Conclusions Understanding topics of interest among practicing surgeons and addressing common obstacles to trial participation may result in improved breast cancer patient accrual through surgeons.
ISSN:0002-9610
1879-1883
DOI:10.1016/j.amjsurg.2007.03.014