Data are lacking on the current perception of oncology care among pediatric urologists. Thus, we developed, pilot tested and administered a survey on this topic to SPU (Society for Pediatric Urology) members.
Approval for this proposal was granted by SPU leadership prior to developing or distributing the survey instrument. The survey was developed and pilot tested by the PUOWG (Pediatric Urologic Oncology Working Group). Response data were collected and descriptive statistics were used for analysis. Logistic regression analysis was performed to correlate surgeon reported factors with higher volumes of reported oncology surgery.
A total of 426 surveys were distributed via email to SPU members and 212 individual surveys (49.8%) were returned with the background/introduction section completed. Of these surveys 200 (94.3%) were completed by practicing pediatric urologists. Overall, 155 respondents (77.5%) reported performing 5 or fewer oncology related surgeries per year and 74.9% reported that less than 25% of renal tumor surgery at their institution was performed through the pediatric urology service. On multivariate analysis the self-reported factors significantly associated with increased oncology surgical volume (more than 5 cases per year) were greater than 50% attendance at institutional tumor board meetings (OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.4-16.9) and practicing at a hospital with a higher volume of renal tumor surgery (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.2-5.8).
Few surveyed pediatric urologists reported performing a high volume of oncology surgery. Respondents expressed interest in ways to increase pediatric urology involvement in oncology care, including opportunities for increased education. Self-reported factors that correlated with higher volume were regular attendance at the institutional pediatric tumor board and practice at a higher volume institution.
The Journal of urology. 2016 Nov 09 [Epub ahead of print]
Nicholas G Cost, Fernando A Ferrer, Armando J Lorenzo, Margarett Shnorhavorian, Kathleen Kieran, Jonathan C Routh, Michael L Ritchey, Jonathan H Ross
Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado. Electronic address: ., Division of Pediatric Urology, Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, Connecticut., Division of Urology, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada., Division of Urology, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, Washington., Division of Urologic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina., Division of Pediatric Urology, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix, Arizona., Department of Urology, University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio.