ISSN:
1569-8041
Keywords:
adjuvant chemotherapy
;
clinicians' opinions
;
non-small-cell lung cancer
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Background:The results of the Italian part of an internationalsurvey on therapeutic preferences and opinions about prognosis of patientsaffected by non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) are shown. Patients and methods:The investigation was conducted by the meansof a postal questionnaire aiming to gather information on preferences abouttreatment and beliefs about survival of three hypothetical patients affectedby NSCLC in different stages (T2N1M0,T2N3M0, M1); three sources ofItalian physicians potentially treating patients affected by NSCLC were thetarget population: participants in the Adjuvant Lung Project Italy (Alpi)trial, a 20% random sample of the Italian Medical Oncology Association(AIOM) and representatives of almost all the pneumology wards in Italy. Results:Overall, there were 287 evaluable responses, 89%of respondents were males, mean age was 46 years, years from graduation 21 andcharge of patients per clinician 82. The most important result is the widevariation of answers both about therapy and prognosis. Expectations about sizeof prognosis improvement with a new chemotherapy seem to be excessive. Conclusions:The results are discussed in relation to the twinsurveys of Canada and England and Wales and to the meta-analyses on theefficacy of chemotherapy as an adjunct to primary treatment and onpostoperative radiotherapy in non-small-cell lung cancer.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1008313731133
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