Pierre-Yves McLaughlin1, Weidong Kong2, Catherine de Metz3, Timothy P Hanna4, Michael Brundage5, Padraig Warde6, Eric Gutierrez6, William J Mackillop7. 1. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Canada; Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Department of Radiation Oncology, CISSS de l'Outaouais, Gatineau, Québec, Canada. 2. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Canada. 3. Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 4. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Canada; Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. 5. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Canada; Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada; Cancer Care Ontario, Canada. 6. Cancer Care Ontario, Canada. 7. Division of Cancer Care and Epidemiology, Queen's Cancer Research Institute, Canada; Department of Oncology, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: william.mackillop@krcc.on.ca.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The scope and effect of radiation oncology (RO) outreach activities within centralized radiotherapy (RT) systems is poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to describe the outreach activities of Ontario's regional cancer centres, and to explore the relationship between radiation oncology (RO) outreach clinics and rates of radiotherapy (RT) utilization at hospitals without RT on site (HWOS-RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ontario RO centres' outreach activities were identified by semi-structured interview. A multivariate analysis determined the association between on-site RT facilities, or presence of RO clinic at HWOS-RT, and RT utilization within one year of diagnosis (RT1Y), for all patients diagnosed with cancer in Ontario in 2011-2012. RESULTS: RO outreach varied widely by region. Of the largest 58 diagnosing hospitals, 14 had RT on-site, 19 had no RT but RO outreach clinic(s) and 25 had no RT or RO clinic. RT was used more frequently for patients diagnosed at hospitals with on-site RT compared to those at HWOS-RT (RT1Y = 35% vs. 29%, RR = 1.32 [95% CI 1.27-1.38]). For HWOS-RT, RT was used more frequently if there was an RO clinic (RT1Y = 31% vs. 29%, RR = 1.06 [95% CI 1.02-1.10]). CONCLUSIONS: RO outreach clinics were associated with a small but significant increase in RT utilization. There is opportunity to improve access to RT by optimizing the effectiveness of RO outreach.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The scope and effect of radiation oncology (RO) outreach activities within centralized radiotherapy (RT) systems is poorly defined. The purpose of this study was to describe the outreach activities of Ontario's regional cancer centres, and to explore the relationship between radiation oncology (RO) outreach clinics and rates of radiotherapy (RT) utilization at hospitals without RT on site (HWOS-RT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ontario RO centres' outreach activities were identified by semi-structured interview. A multivariate analysis determined the association between on-site RT facilities, or presence of RO clinic at HWOS-RT, and RT utilization within one year of diagnosis (RT1Y), for all patients diagnosed with cancer in Ontario in 2011-2012. RESULTS: RO outreach varied widely by region. Of the largest 58 diagnosing hospitals, 14 had RT on-site, 19 had no RT but RO outreach clinic(s) and 25 had no RT or RO clinic. RT was used more frequently for patients diagnosed at hospitals with on-site RT compared to those at HWOS-RT (RT1Y = 35% vs. 29%, RR = 1.32 [95% CI 1.27-1.38]). For HWOS-RT, RT was used more frequently if there was an RO clinic (RT1Y = 31% vs. 29%, RR = 1.06 [95% CI 1.02-1.10]). CONCLUSIONS: RO outreach clinics were associated with a small but significant increase in RT utilization. There is opportunity to improve access to RT by optimizing the effectiveness of RO outreach.
Authors: Wei Liu; Alissa Liu; Jessica Chan; R Gabriel Boldt; Pablo Munoz-Schuffenegger; Alexander V Louie Journal: Transl Lung Cancer Res Date: 2019-09
Authors: Tienush Rassaf; Matthias Totzeck; Johannes Backs; Carsten Bokemeyer; Michael Hallek; Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner; Andreas Hochhaus; Diana Lüftner; Oliver J Müller; Ulrich Neudorf; Roman Pfister; Stephan von Haehling; Lorenz H Lehmann; Johann Bauersachs Journal: Clin Res Cardiol Date: 2020-05-13 Impact factor: 5.460